Dhaka: Agriculture Adviser Lt. Gen. Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd) announced today that the country has experienced a substantial increase in agricultural production this year, with the production of Boro paddy surpassing 15 lac metric tonnes.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Jahangir highlighted that this year’s Boro paddy production has been exceptionally high, exceeding previous figures, and vegetable production has also seen a considerable increase. He made these remarks in response to questions at a post-budget press conference held at the Osmani Memorial auditorium. Present at the conference were Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and other relevant advisers and government officials.
Jahangir noted that while 85 percent of the Boro paddy has already been harvested, some areas in Rajshahi and Rangpur are still pending. He reported increased production of potato, onion, maize, and ginger, with wheat production slightly up from the previous year. Addressing concerns about measures for middle-class citizens, he emphasized the need to balance consumer rights with farmers’ rights, noting that while high potato production has led to lower consumer prices, farmers have not received fair compensation. He pointed out that government subsidies in agriculture benefit consumers.
During the last Ramadan, efforts by the government kept commodity prices at a manageable level compared to previous years, and current prices are within the purchasing power of the population. The adviser mentioned the establishment of around 100 small cold storages for agricultural products during the transitional period between winter and summer.
To address storage issues, Jahangir explained that separate cold storage facilities are being arranged for different vegetable items, with plans to complete these before the next vegetable harvest. For onions, the government has constructed 500 storage rooms equipped with airflow machines, extending preservation time by four to five months. The introduction of summer onion is also being explored to benefit middle-class consumers.