ZCZC
BSS-08
PM-KIB-CONVENTION 3 LAST DHAKA
The prime minister underscored the need for emergency food stock keeping
in mind the natural disasters like flood, drought, cyclone and tidal surge.
“Producing food is not adequate, we will also have to focus on emergency
food stock as the natural disasters like flood, drought, cyclone and tidal
surge are common phenomena in the country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has started construction of modern silos
and food godowns to keep stock of food of 20/22 lakh metric tons or for 2/3
years so that the country doesn’t need to beg to others for food.
The premier said the government is also working to popularise solar power
for agri production. “We’ll have to go for renewable energy,” she said.
In this connection, she urged the agriculture minister to take initiatives
for setting up solar panel on cooperative basis as it is very costly.
“All will be benefitted if it is done on this way. On behalf of the power
ministry, we will extend all kinds of cooperation to this end,” she assured.
Highlighting her government’s strides for development of the agriculture
sector, the premier said the government in its first cabinet meeting brought
the price of non-urea fertilizers within the reach of the farmers.
“Later we cut the fertilizer price twice and a result the TSP is being
sold at Taka 22, MOP at Taka 15 and DAP at Taka 27,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has given a huge amount of subsidy to
make available the chemical fertilizers, irrigation, fuel oil and agriculture
machinery.
She said collateral-free agri loan is being disbursed among the
sharecroppers at a nominal interest and agriculture assistance cards were
distributed among the farmers side by side with allowing them to open bank
accounts at only Taka 10.
The prime minister said as a result, Bangladesh now achieved an
unprecedented success in producing agri products. “The total food grain
(rice, wheat and maize) production has increased to 4.15 crore MT in 2017-
2018 from 3.28 crore MT in 2008-2009,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government also given importance to agriculture
education and research to boost food production in the country.
“We’ve set up two new agriculture universities alongside 12 science and
technology universities … agriculture subject was opened in Hazi Danesh
Science and Technology University in Dinajpur and Patuakhali Science and
Technology University,” she said.
Referring to Bangabandhu’s contributions to the development of
agriculture, the premier said he fixed ceiling of land ownership up to 100
bighas and waived tax of land up to 25 bighas.
“It was the Father of the Nation who gave class one status to the job of
the agriculturists to attract students to agri education and introduced
‘Bangabandhu Krishi Puroshkar Tahabil’ for the contributions to the
agriculture sector,” she added.
BSS/SH/FI/ 1440 hrs