DHAKA, Jun 22, 2020 (BSS) – Considering farmers adverse economic condition due to the deadly corona virus catastrophe, Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque has urged the private sector seed companies to make less profit in seed business along with the government.
“The privatized seed companies would have to come forward and make less profit in different crop seed selling including hybrid rice, maize and vegetables along with the government as the farmers are facing critical situation due to the spread of COVID-19”, said the minister in an online meeting on the latest seed supply situation with the public and private sector seed companies from his official residence here today.
To face any adverse situation in the food production, he said the government is providing various incentives including subsidies focusing maximum importance on the agriculture sector, saying that the privatized seed company at the same time also would come forward for the welfare of agriculture as well as the growers from the aspect of their social responsibility.
Regarding the government subsidy of Taka 20 crore for the first time in seed sector, the agriculture minister told the meeting that the government is providing the amount of subsidy for selling 19,500 tonnes aman paddy seed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).
Under the subsidy, the BADC will sell per kg high yielding variety aman seed by less Taka 10 and it will be less Taka 50 for hybrid seed.
Moderated by Agriculture secretary M Nasiruzzaman, the meeting also was attended, among others, by Additional Secretaries M Arifur Rahman Apu, Kamlaranjan Das, Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, M Hasanuzzaman Kallol, Bangladesh Agriculture University’s Emiratus Professor Dr Abdus Sattar Mondol, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)’s Bangladesh Representative Dr Hemnath Bhandari and representatives from different private sector seed company.
Terming the ensuing aman output increasing a big challenge during the corona situation, the minister said the aman output is comparatively less than the boro though its area is more than the boro. The productivity can be increased by 15 to 20 per cent more only through using high yielding variety quality seed, he added.
With the instruction of the prime minister and time befitting decision by the agriculture ministry have exceeded the boro production compare to its target amid the deadly corona virus situation.
The minister, however, expected that the aus production also will exceed the target like the boro if any natural disaster does not take place.
Expressing his satisfaction on the marketing of the seasonal fruits, Dr Razzaque said although the farmers had to face a little problem in marketing the seasonal fruits and vegetables, but now it has been overcome as the farmers are getting good price in selling the seasonal fruits.
Regarding the possible food crisis due to the corona pandemic, the agriculture secretary said in his address that the agriculture ministry has taken the short, medium and long term plan under the leadership of the agriculture ministry.
If these plan could be implemented in exhaustively, then country would be free from any possible impact of food crisis due to the corona pandemic, he detailed.