Dhaka: Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today announced that his ministry has achieved commendable progress under the government’s first 180-day programme. The minister addressed journalists in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighting significant advancements in agricultural production, storage capabilities, and technological adoption.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister emphasized the country’s movement towards reducing reliance on imported agricultural products. He assured that there is currently no fertilizer shortage in the country, countering claims of an artificial shortage as part of a conspiracy. The current fertilizer stock exceeds demand, and is higher compared to the previous year.
The minister further detailed the government’s agricultural development goals, stating that 350,000 to 400,000 farmers will receive ‘Farmer Cards’ monthly, with a database of approximately 1.4 million farmers already established at the pilot stage. Additionally, more than 2.418 million tree saplings have been planted against a target of 2.5 million in the past six months. Canal excavation has also progressed, with 475.61 kilometers completed against a target of 478.9 kilometers.
Addressing onion production and storage, Amin Ur Rashid noted that no onion imports have been necessary this year, thanks to technological improvements allowing onions to be stored for up to six months. Future infrastructure aims to store 300,000 tons of onions. The government’s primary objective is to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture, eliminating the need for future imports of agricultural products.
Initiatives are underway to reduce import dependence on jute seeds, onion seeds, and ginger. The Agriculture Minister also announced the upcoming cultivation of a new rice variety, ‘BRI-118’, which can be planted earlier in wetland areas, providing protection against early floods.
To reduce production costs, the minister outlined a plan to transition all irrigation pumps to solar power, with preparations in place to convert 60,000 to 62,000 pumps initially. This initiative aims to alleviate irrigation costs, a major concern for farmers.