Agriculture Adviser Lt. Gen. Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd) spoke at a post-budget press conference at Osmani Memorial auditorium today. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, June 3, 2025 (BSS) – Agriculture Adviser Lt. Gen. Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd) today said the country saw much higher agricultural production this year as 15 lac metric tonnes of Boro paddy has been produced this year.

“This year, there has been a bumper production of Boro paddy as the production is higher than 15 lac metric tonnes. Vegetable production is also much higher than the previous years,” he said while replying to a question at a post-budget press conference at Osmani Memorial auditorium here. 

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and other concerned advisers and government officials were present at the press conference.      
 
Jahangir said 85 percent Boro paddy has been harvested as some paddy in Rajshahi and Rangpur areas are yet to be harvested. Potato, onion, maize and ginger production is much higher this year while wheat production is little higher than previous year, he added.    
   
Replying to a question what measures taken for middle class people, he said, “We always talks about consumers rights but we talk a little about farmers’ right. As potato production is very high this year, consumers get products at lower prices but farmers didn’t get fair price. Government’s subsidy in agriculture facilitates consumers.”

He said during the last Ramadan, commodity prices were at tolerable level compared to previous occasions due to government efforts. At present, prices are under the purchasing capacity of the people, he said.

The adviser said they have managed some 100 small cold storages for agricultural products one month of transitional period between winter and summer.

“Besides, generally edible potato and potato seeds are kept at same cold storages. To reduce these problems, we are managing four big cold storages for keeping only potato seeds,” he said.

He said all vegetable items cannot be kept at same temperature in cold storage that is why the government is making arrangement for separate boxes for keeping separate timers in cold storages with the help of climate fund.

“We can complete the work before the next vegetable harvesting,” he said.

About preserving onion, he said the country has no cold storage for onion preservation that is why the government has constructed some 500 rooms having airflow machine facilities to keep onion preserved for five to four months more than normal period. “Besides, we are trying to introduce summer onion. If we become successful, it will benefit the middle class people,” he said.