Agricultural production-marketing continues in Corona: Agriculture Minister

In order to ensure that production is not disrupted due to corona, quality seed production, collection, storage and marketing activities are continuing, said the Minister of Agriculture. Md. Abdur Razzak.

He said various steps are being taken to continue the current trend of agricultural production in the Corona situation and to increase production in the future by producing quality seeds, collecting, storing, marketing vegetables, maintaining supply and ensuring fair prices to farmers.

In addition, to ensure food supply, all-round plant quarantine activities have been continued to continue import-export activities.

The agriculture minister made the remarks in an online meeting with stakeholders on Monday (April 27th) from the conference room of the ministry on what to do in marketing and supplying vegetables, seeds and fresh agricultural products in the Corona situation.

He said the agriculture ministry was working tirelessly to address the long-term effects of corona.

Regarding the marketing of vegetables and ensuring fair prices to the farmers in the Corona situation, the Agriculture Minister said that measures have been taken to ensure smooth movement of vegetables and perishable agricultural products. The relief materials provided by the Ministry of Disaster Management include essential agricultural products like potatoes, vegetables, onions etc. In collaboration with the district administration, the Department of Agricultural Marketing has started operating a mobile market for agricultural products.

Besides, a letter has been sent from the Department of Agricultural Marketing to the district administration to take action for the movement of trucks in case of sending the surplus agricultural products to the shortage areas. As a result, marketing of vegetables has become easier.

He said the recommendations made at the meeting would include the use of BRTC trucks, rental of cargo for export, extension of deadline for opening of country’s supershops and formation of an inter-ministerial high-level committee for coordination.

Abdur Razzak said that quality seed production, collection, storage and marketing activities are being carried out so that production is not disrupted due to corona. Aus, vegetables and jute seeds produced by BADC and other private companies have already been supplied. Which is currently being prepared by farmers in the field.

Besides, potato seeds produced during Rabi season have been collected and stored in cold storage. Of which BADC’s potato seed collection amount is 34,500 metric tons. About 75,000 metric tons of private companies. Which is 5 thousand metric tons more than last year.

The Agriculture Minister said all-round plant quarantine activities have been continued to ensure import-export activities to ensure food supply during the general holiday.

Replying to a question on incentives in the agriculture sector after the meeting, Abdur Razzak said, “Incentives have already been given at 4 per cent interest of Tk 5,000 crore.” In the current budget, in the interest of the farmers, a subsidy of Tk 9,000 crore is being implemented in the agriculture sector for rebate of electricity bill for irrigation.

Besides, Bangladesh Bank will provide special loan incentive of Tk 14,500 crore to disburse loans to farmers at only 4 per cent interest instead of 9 per cent to offset the overall loss to the agriculture sector due to the outbreak of corona virus, the agriculture minister said. This means that the total incentive in the agricultural sector at 4 percent interest stood at 19,500 (14,500 and recently received 5,000) crore.

The meeting was informed that among the districts of the country Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Comilla, Jhenaidah, Jessore, Magura, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Bogra, Pabna, Rajshahi, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirj, Surplus district for. Vegetables are being sent to other districts by truck from these districts.

Besides, there is a target to procure one lakh metric tonnes of boro seed paddy and 10,000 metric tonnes of hybrid paddy seed in the current boro season.

It was also informed at the meeting that from March 29 to April 23, 93 plant health certificates of exportable products and 1,040 imported fresh fruits and spices, 413 raw cotton and pulses and 145 imported chartered vessels were issued in case of emergency.

During this time, 48 import permits have been issued in favor of various imported products. Besides, 93 plant health certificates have been issued for the export of 4,500 metric tonnes of potatoes to Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Brunei, United Arab Emirates and other countries in the last few days.

Online meeting of the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. Nasiruzzaman, Additional Secretary (Administration) said. Arifur Rahman Apu, Additional Secretary (Research) Kamalaranjan Das, Additional Secretary (Fertilizer Management and Materials) said. Mahbubul Islam, Additional Secretary (Extension) said. Hasanuzzaman Kallol, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Marketing Mohammad Yusuf, Chairman of the BADC. Saidul Islam, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension. Md. Abdul Mueed and Hortex Foundation Executive Director. Manjurul Hannan was attached.

Besides, Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetable Exporters Association, Bapa, Square Food, Pran Group, Taiwan Food Processing, Potato Exporters Association, Associates Seed, ACI, MM Ispahani, BRAC, United Seed, Mallika Seed, Aftab Multipurpose Farms, P Rateksa Agro, metal seed company representatives, etc. connected.