Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid spoke to journalists in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture today. Photo: PID

DHAKA, August 18, 2026 (BSS) – Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today said his ministry has made satisfactory progress as part of the government’s first 180- day programme.  
 
“By increasing agricultural production, expanding storage facilities, and enhancing the use of technology, the country will gradually move away from dependence on imported agricultural products,” he said while speaking to journalists at the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture. 

“There is currently no fertilizer shortage in the country; rather, there is an excess stock of fertilizer compared to demand.

 The stock of fertilizer this year is also higher than the last year. Those who are creating confusion by talking about an artificial fertilizer shortage are part of a planned conspiracy," said the minister.  

Highlighting the development of the agriculture sector and the progress of various government targets, he said that 350,000 to 400,000 farmers will gradually be provided with 'Farmer Card' every month. A database of approximately 1.4 million farmers has already been prepared at the pilot stage, he added. 

He said against the target of planting 2.5 million tree saplings in the past six months, more than 2.418 million saplings have already been planted. During the same period, against the target of excavating 478.9 kilometers of canals, 475.61 kilometers of canal excavation have already been completed, he said. 

Regarding onion production and storage, Amin Ur Rashid said, "No onions have had to be imported so far this year. Previously, onions would rot and spoil due to a lack of storage. 

Now, thanks to technology, it is possible to store onions for up to six months. Infrastructure for storing 300,000 tons of onions will be created in the future."

Emphasizing the goal of achieving self-sufficiency as an agriculture-based country, he said, "The government’s main goal is that no agricultural product has to be imported from abroad in the future.

 To that end, initiatives have been taken to expand storage facilities alongside increasing production."

The minister said initiatives have been taken to gradually move away from import dependence in the case of jute seeds, onion seeds, and ginger.

Regarding increasing food production and technological innovation, the Agriculture Minister informed that cultivation of a new rice variety called 'BRI-118' will begin from next year. 

This variety can be planted 10 to 15 days earlier than the conventional time in haor (wetland) areas. As a result, the variety will play an important role in protecting crops from early floods, he added. 

Regarding initiatives to reduce production costs, he said, "Irrigation costs are a major concern for farmers.

 There is a plan to bring all pumps used for irrigation in the country under solar power. As an initial step, preparations have already been completed to operate 60,000 to 62,000 pumps on solar power."