BD eyes shift from farm imports to exports

The government is working to ensure fair prices for farmers' produce and transform the agricultural sector from import-dependent to export-oriented, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has said.

He also said, domestic production of agricultural products currently imported from abroad would be increased gradually to reduce dependence on imports.

The minister made the remarks on Friday (November 6) during an exchange of views with farmers and officials while visiting various agricultural production areas in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, as well as irrigation projects of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA).

He said, farmers in the Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj regions were highly hardworking and dedicated to agriculture. Besides mango production, the region had also made significant progress in rice and vegetable cultivation.

To further expand agricultural potential, the government would take initiatives to promote ginger cultivation on unused land between trees in mango orchards, he added.

The minister said Bangladesh imports around 150,000 tonnes of ginger every year. Expanding ginger cultivation in vacant spaces within mango orchards would help reduce import dependence while creating additional income opportunities for farmers.

He said agricultural officials had been instructed to assess soil suitability and take necessary measures to promote the cultivation.

The Agriculture Minister also spoke about increasing the use of river water for irrigation to reduce dependence on groundwater. He said a major project in this regard had already been submitted to him and forwarded for the next stage of the approval process.

He added that initiatives were underway to explore the possibility of establishing cold storage facilities in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj to preserve mangoes.

According to the minister, extending the storage period of mangoes would help prevent unusually sharp price declines caused by excess supply during the harvest season, ensuring fair prices for farmers.

Highlighting progress towards self-sufficiency in onion production, Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government was also placing special emphasis on increasing the production of ginger, garlic and rainy-season tomatoes.

He said, initiatives would be taken from the next season to expand rainy-season tomato cultivation.

The minister reiterated that the government's goal was to establish Bangladesh as an agricultural export-oriented country rather than one dependent on agricultural imports.

Senior officials from the local administration and relevant departments, representatives of BMDA and farmers were present during the visit.

-MT