Agriculture minister worried about increase in paddy price

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak has said he is worried about the price hike of paddy that was caused by several factors, including floods, this year.

"We have to increase the production of Boro paddy in the coming season at any cost. Our goal is to increase Boro paddy cultivation to 50,000 hectares of land next season," said the minister at a meeting to review the progress of implementation of the Annual Development Project (ADP) online from the conference room of the ministry on Sunday.

"To achieve the goal, we have to ensure the proper distribution of various agricultural inputs including fertiliser, irrigation and incentives to deal with the damage caused by floods. We are providing improved seeds of Boro paddy to the farmers," he added.

Instructing the ministry to provide the maximum level of service to all at the field level, to encourage the farmers, he said the farmers should be encouraged to ensure no Boro-cultivable land is left.

"To increase Boro production and productivity, all the officials have to work whole-heartedly, make all preparations and stay by the side of the farmers," he said.

"Not only Boro paddy, but also the crops available in the Rabi season – such as onion, wheat, potato, maize, mustard, vegetables, masakalai, and other crops – need to be increased now," he added.

"There is a lot of potential for maize cultivation all over the country, including the saline land of the south. Therefore, all preparation must be made now to produce these crops very successfully. The unprecedented success of Bangladesh in the field of agriculture is being lauded all over the world which we must continue by increasing production," he continued.

It was announced at the meeting that a total of Tk2,361 crore has been allocated in favour of 68 projects under the Ministry of Agriculture in the ADP of the current fiscal year 2020-21. Implementation progress is 16.30% till October 2020 where the national average progress is about 13%.

Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Md Mesbahul Islam conducted the meeting.

Additional Secretary (extension) of the ministry Md Hasanuzzaman Kallol, Additional Secretary (fertiliser management and materials) Md Mahbubul Islam, Additional Secretary (research) Kamala Ranjan Das, Director General (seeds) Balai Krishna Hajra, Additional Secretary (audit) Md Abdul Quader, and project managers – including the heads of organisations – were present on the occasion.