Fertiliser stocks ample, group trying to create artificial crisis: Agriculture minister
Fertiliser stocks in the country are currently far higher than market demand, however, a group is attempting to create an artificial crisis, said Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today.
“Our warehouses are well-stocked, and they will not succeed because our integrity is intact. This government is a government of the farmers,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of a two-day training session in Gazaria, Munshiganj this afternoon.
The event was organised by the Upazila Livestock Office and Veterinary Hospital under the Integrated Livestock Development Project in Riverine Char Areas covering Manikganj, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur and Shariatpur districts.
Amin Ur Rashid said 75 percent of the country’s people are involved in agriculture and that strengthening their economic condition would strengthen the national economy.
He said ensuring fair prices for farmers’ produce is the government’s primary goal.
Referring to the “Farmer Card” initiative, he said government records would eventually track the area of land cultivated with crops such as potatoes and farmers’ specific fertiliser requirements. This data would allow the government to plan well ahead of the harvest, he said.
“While this will take some time, all farmers’ issues can be resolved through this card,” he said.
The minister also said the government would seek to upgrade mini cold storage facilities to help farmers secure better prices for perishable crops.
He said tomatoes could be stored in such facilities for one and a half to two months, while carrots could be preserved for three to four months. During peak season, carrots sell for Tk 3-4 per kilogramme, compared with up to Tk 100 during off-season, he said.
“Currently, carrots have to be imported. Crops grow year-round in Bangladesh. Bangladesh ought to export agricultural products, so having to import them is a matter of shame for me as a minister,” he said.
Munshiganj District Commissioner Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi chaired the programme.
Munshiganj-3 MP Md Kamruzzaman Ratan, Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Department of Livestock Services Director General Md Shahjaman Khan, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak, Department of Agricultural Extension Additional Director Golam Mostafa Khan and Project Director Dr Abdur Rahim attended as special guests.
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