Dhaka: Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced today that the government is set to implement a land use and agriculture land safety ordinance with strict rules to protect agricultural land from being misused for non-agricultural purposes, including construction on double and triple crop lands.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser shared this information during a briefing on the ministry’s successes and achievements over the past year. The press conference, held in the ministry’s conference room, included the presence of high-ranking officials such as Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah.
Chowdhury highlighted the government’s distribution of incentives worth Taka 893.20 crore and the provision of free support including fertilizers, seeds, and seedlings to 88.55 lakh small and marginal farmers over the last year. In the fiscal year 2024-2025, the country produced over 4.19 crore tonnes of rice, alongside significant outputs of other crops such as potatoes, wheat, maize, and green chilies.
The adviser also addressed the payment of fertilizer arrears amounting to Taka 20,691 crore and the procurement of 30,000 tonnes of fertilizer from Russia. The government reportedly saved Taka 233.61 crore by dismantling a fertilizer syndicate. Plans to convert unused jute mill godowns into fertilizer storage facilities are underway, with financial support from the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation.
Chowdhury mentioned nine new projects initiated with a budget of Taka 2,646.11 crore, while three projects are under review and two have been canceled. The government plans to build 100 mini cold storages for vegetable preservation and has set the potato price at cold storage gates at a minimum of Taka 22 per kg.
Export earnings from agricultural products have increased by 10%, with mangoes being exported to China for the first time. Additionally, 62,051 tonnes of potatoes have been exported this season. The government is constructing treatment plants to facilitate exports and has approved a Good Agriculture Practice protocol for exporting 15 agricultural products.
Environmental conservation efforts include the destruction of ‘akashmoni’ and eucalyptus plants, with compensation provided for farmers. The government is preparing a comprehensive agricultural development outline for 2025-2050, focusing on sustainable agriculture and food security.
Efforts to modernize the agricultural sector include the distribution of new crop species, the introduction of a mobile app ‘khamari’, and training programs for officials. Plans to implement a track and tracking system, modernize marketing departments, and establish online seed management systems are also underway.