DHAKA, July 9, 2018 (BSS) – The cabinet today approved the draft of a
revised National Agriculture Policy eying to benefit farmers and attaining
food and nutrition security for the people.
The cabinet approval came at its weekly meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat
with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
“The policy has been framed by upgrading the previous policy of 2013 . . .
its prime goal is to make the agriculture sector safe and profitable and
attain food and nutrition security,” Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam told a
news briefing after the meeting, simultaneously approved in principle the
draft of Bangladesh Shishu Academy Act.
Alam described the “Jatiya Krishi Niti-2018” as an “overarching” policy
saying it included issues which were not addressed in the previous policy.
He said the policy intended to increase and diversify crop production,
enhance farmers’ income, produce nutritious and safe food, develop marketing
system and ensure food safety, ensure efficient use of natural resources and
socioeconomic development.
Alam said the issues of nanotechnology, standard seed production and urban
agricultural services, agro-machinery services, innovative extension
technology and agriculture technology block and year-round productions were
featured the policy.
The policy also included a provision of taking agriculture extension
programmes for disaster prone regions and stressed farming on cooperative
system, he said
The cabinet secretary said the Bangladesh Shishu Academy Act, 2018 will
replace the existence ‘Bangladesh Shishu Academy Ordinance, 1976,’
promulgated during the then military regime,
The Supreme Court in a verdict in 2010 annulled all laws framed by the
military rulers asking the government to replace those with new ones in
Bangla.
Accordingly the Shishu Academy Ordinance became defunct while the proposed
law suggested the body to be headed by a director general (DG) its chief
instead of the director.
The academy will have its head office in Dhaka, and with government
permission it can open its branches at divisions, districts and upazilas.
A 17-member Management Board headed by a chairman would operate the
activities of the academy.
The board will comprise directors general of Bangla Academy and Bangladesh
Shilpa Kala Academy, Dean of Fine Arts faculty of Dhaka University, a joint
secretary of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry and representatives of
Finance Division, Social Welfare Ministry, Ministry of Information, Cultural
Affairs Ministry, Primary and Mass Education Ministry, Health Ministry, ICT
Division, Shishu Kalyan Parishad, and four distinguished persons regarded for
their contribution to childrens welfare.
The proposed law said out of the four distinguished persons two must be
women.
The academy will give honorary fellowship to distinguished persons having
outstanding contribution to language, literature, science, arts or any
special social areas alongside working for overall welfare and development of
the children.
Chairman of the board of the academy and its Director General would be
appointed by the government.