ZCZC
BSS-02
AGRICULTURE-ACHIEVEMENT
Agriculture sector sees a boost last year, say experts
DHAKA, Jan 3, 2018 (BSS) – The country’s agriculture sector witnessed a
breakthrough in policy formulation and achieved a remarkable progress in crop
production in the last year giving emphasis on nutrition enriched bio-
fortified crops which are crucial for building a prosperous Bangladesh by
2021.
In the last year, the agriculture ministry framed some rules and
regulations including Wheat and Maize Research Institute Act 2017 to set up a
new organisation. The ministry also finalised some bills which are
significant for policy level initiative to increase food production.
Despite crop loss due to floods in the six haor districts, the production
of Aman and potato was satisfactory.
Talking to BSS, Director General of Bangladesh Agriculture Research
Institute (BARI) Abul Kalam Azad said, “The agriculture sector is now in a
better position and the rising trend of rice production was also continued in
the last year.”
He said the government has revised the existing Agriculture Research
Institute act considering the challenges of agriculture caused by the climate
change.
Terming the crop loss in the haor areas as great turmoil for the crop
sector, the BARI scientist also informed that the government is patronising
short-duration crop varieties including the BRRI Dhan-28 and other local
paddy so that the country can avoid the risk of crop loss during any natural
disaster.
In the last year, the country achieved significant success in research
sector, said Azad, adding “We have released significant number of crop
varieties including ‘BARI Gom-33′, a bio-fortified and blast resistant, which
will give more yield compared to the existing varieties.”
The country had to incur a loss of around Taka 1,800 crore in the last year
due to the first ever wheat blast attack.
About 40 percent crops on 1, 08,715 hectares of wheat fields in Jessore,
Kushtia, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Jhenidah, Magura, Barisal and Bhola were
damaged due to blast attack.
Apart from this, the government is progressing with the Genetically
Modified Organism (GMO) crop, said the Executive Chairman of Bangladesh
Agriculture Research Council, adding that another three varieties of
aubergine are now waiting for approval of the Department of Environment.
“We have signed an agreement with the USA for conducting higher research on
pest-resistance transgenic potato variety,’ said the former BARC chief.
Regarding the productivity of crops, noted agriculturist Dr Jahangir Alam
said the price hike of food grain has become normal due to excellence Aman
production.
Agriculture productivity was quite good but the government so far could not
form an integrated plan on land and water resources management which is
necessary for facing the future challenge in agriculture sector, said Dr M
Asaduzzaman, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies
(BIDS).
Former director general of the DAE Hamidur Rahman told the BSS that the
government introduced an app “Pesticide Use Instruction”. Farmers would be
able to know which pesticide is suitable for which crops through the app.
Apart from this, the agriculture ministry in association with Prime
Minister Office (PMO)’s a2i programme has launched two apps “Krishoker
Janala” and “Krishoker Digital Thikana” with a view to making farmers aware
of the nourishment of crops in different phase of cultivation including
harvest.
BSS/SPL/OG/RY/1055 hrs