Dhaka: Home and Agriculture Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Rtd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced today that the government is contemplating the marketing of potatoes through the Open Market Sale (OMS) system. This initiative aims to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their produce, thereby sustaining their interest in potato cultivation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury shared these insights during a media briefing following the monthly coordination meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture at the Bangladesh Secretariat. He highlighted that, despite a substantial increase in potato production this year, farmers may lose motivation to continue growing the crop if they are not adequately compensated.
Chowdhury also noted that the increased onion production has resulted in lower market prices for consumers this year. However, he emphasized the challenge of insufficient cold storage facilities to preserve the surplus produce. To address this, the government has constructed 100 mini cold storages across the country to store green vegetables and plans to build additional facilities to preserve various agricultural goods.
The adviser further accused previous administrations of misappropriating public funds under the guise of purchasing agricultural instruments. He confirmed that the current government has referred these allegations to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for investigation.
In terms of fertilizer availability, Chowdhury assured that there would be no shortage this year, as the country currently holds ample stocks. He added that all outstanding payments in the fertilizer sector have been settled, and the government is prepared to import more fertilizer if necessary.