Export-import gap should be reduced: Speakers

The gap between import and export of agricultural products should be reduced by increasing the productivity of agricultural items and increasing the production of agro-based equipment, speakers said at a dialogue.

“Bangladesh imports food grains worth around $10 billion while our export is only around $1 billion. As the prices of commodities increased in the international market, Bangladesh is now also feeling the pain of paying huge amounts of dollar due to a huge trade gap” said Mustafizur Rahman, fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue at the dialogue.

The dialogue was organised by Bangladesh Krishi Shangbadik Forum at Krishibid Institution of Bangladesh (KIB) on Sunday.

Mustafizur also said that new technology is needed to increase productivity. “This is the high time to invest in new innovations.

To equip the agricultural sector with modern technology, a major change is needed in the budget allocation of this sector. Also addressing the event, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque stressed building the capacity for using new technologies.

“There are several examples published in newspapers that there are machines but no operator is there. The capacity of using the budget properly is needed before increasing the allocation. But I believe the budget in this sector should be increased,” he added.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and Planning Minister MA Mannan were the special guests in the program.

Professor Jahangir Alam of Bangladesh Agriculture University presented the keynote where FBCCI president Jashim Uddin, City Bank Managing Director Mashrur Arefin, President ACI Agribusiness FH Ansarey, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) former executive chairman Wais Kabir were the panel discussants.

BAJF President Iftekher Mahmud presided over the dialogue while General Secretary Shahanuare Shaid Shahin moderated the dialogue.