Ministry to form cell to aid agricultural entrepreneurs: Razzaque

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Saturday said a cell would be formed to help new entrepreneurs with the cultivation and marketing of agricultural goods in order to boost the sector for the country’s economic development.

“We will make the cell soon to promote and create more entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector,” he said while addressing a conference titled “Bharashar Natun Janala” at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) in the capital.

United Commercial Bank (UCB), Bangladesh Safe Agro Food Efforts (BSAFE) Foundation, and Bikoshito Bangladesh organised the conference. Around 150 farmers from 34 districts who contributed to the agriculture sector took part in it.

Razzaque said his ministry would also set up a modern lab in Purbachal soon so that agro goods could be exported to different counties with ease.

He said the agriculture goods warehouses needed to be modernised as well. Remarking that agriculture had now become a respected profession, he said, “We want to build a happy and prosperous country through agriculture by modernising it.”

He said Bangladesh had significantly improved the agriculture sector, thanks to government initiatives.

“Some 15 years ago, there was no food for many families during the Bangla months of Ashwin and Kartik. Now, there is no such crisis. Agriculture has huge potential in Bangladesh. Our scientists are also discovering new rice varieties.”

He said the use of agricultural land is the highest in Bangladesh compared to other countries in the world.

“We achieved the Millennium Development Goals by 2015-16. Later, we set goals to ensure safe food. I hope we will succeed in that too,” he said.

The minister said they had undertaken a Tk 3,000 crore project on agriculture.

“We provide farmers with 50-70 per cent incentives to purchase modern machinery. We even ensured electricity supply across the country and developed infrastructure as well,” he said.

He also said this type of conference is very important for farmers and the economy.

Farmers are playing a significant role in the country’s economy, he said, adding, “We and banks have responsibilities to help farmers more.”

Describing the Rohingyas as an additional burden for Bangladesh, he said rice prices had somewhat increased due to them and also non-food consumption.

He said mango would be a golden fibre like jute in Bangladesh, and the country could earn a huge amount of foreign currency by exporting the fruit.

“We exported agricultural products worth Tk 1 billion this year. Many foreigners also come to Bangladesh to eat our delicious mangoes,” he said.

“Within the next four to five years, we will get a mango variety that will be available all year round. It is being cultivated now,” he added.

Razzaque said banks should provide low-interest agriculture loans.

He said the government had reduced the bank loan interest rate to below 10 per cent for the sake of people amid various barriers.

According to UCB, it distributed Tk 64 crore among 673 farmers last year under the government’s agriculture incentive initiative. It has outstanding loans of Tk 442.58 crore in this sector.

Its Managing Director Mohammed Shawkat Jamil, Bangladesh Bank Agricultural Credit Department General Manager Md Abdul Hakim, and BSAFE Foundation General Secretary Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique were present at the conference as special guests.

Anwar Faruque, former agriculture secretary and convener of the conference, presided over the programme.