Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury spoke at the Agriculture Ministry in the Bangladesh Secretariat today. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Dec 7, 2025 (BSS) – Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said the government is considering providing subsidies to potato farmers.

“We’re considering subsidies for potato farmers, as they have suffered immensely due to a significant price drop despite a bumper potato harvest,” he said.

He made the remarks after coming out of an emergency meeting with all district agriculture officers at the Agriculture Ministry in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was called following the sudden spike in onion prices.

Replying to a question on how the subsidy would be given to potato farmers, he said, “We are exploring ways to provide the subsidy effectively.”

Against the backdrop of the sudden hike in onion prices, the adviser said officials would be dismissed if found involved in price manipulation.

“If any agriculture officer is found involved in manipulating onion prices, they will be removed from their jobs,” he said.

“The adviser stated that onion prices had surged due to market manipulation, despite sufficient stocks,” he added.

He noted that prices rose by Tk 40–45 per kilogram yesterday but fell today after the government announced limited onion imports starting December 7.

“We have to find out the syndicate. It won’t take long if you, the media, help us in this effort,” he added.

He said the government has allowed onion imports to stabilize the market.

“We have to consider the interests of both farmers and consumers,” he said, emphasizing the need to balance their interests. “If prices rise, consumers suffer; if prices fall drastically, farmers suffer.”

“If onions are sold at Tk 70 per kg, the interests of both farmers and consumers are served,” he opined.

Mentioning that there is no fertilizer shortage in the country, Jahangir said the government has decided to limit fertilizer supply to tobacco farmers as part of efforts to discourage tobacco cultivation.

He also warned that using harmful fertilizers and pesticides in cattle and fish farming poses dangers to public health, calling on everyone to remain vigilant against such practices.