Govt aims to save Tk 3,000cr annually on fertiliser

The interim government is pursuing measures expected to save between Tk 2,000 crore and Tk 3,000 crore annually on fertiliser, according to Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The measures have already saved Tk 1,000 crore this year, he said at a seminar on local farm machinery and the challenges of exporting agricultural products at the CIRDAP in Dhaka yesterday.

The event was organised by the Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) in celebration of its 25th anniversary, marking the opening of a four-day international conference, "Political Commitment in Agriculture and Food."

The secretary revealed that a long-term plan is being formulated to modernise and develop Bangladesh's agricultural sector over the next 25 years. The final draft is expected by December.

He also stated that Tk 600 crore from the mechanisation project has already been returned to the government.

Md Durrul Huda, chief scientific officer and head of the Farm Machinery and Post-Harvest Technology Division at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, pointed out that Bangladesh faces challenges in producing modern agricultural machinery due to a shortage of skilled workers, outdated infrastructure, and limited access to advanced equipment.

The country's light engineering sector and foundries are not fully modernised, making it difficult to maintain interchangeable parts or adopt assembly-line production, he said. Besides, Huda stressed that domestic production of agricultural machinery requires state support, long-term planning, and low-interest loans.

He called for stronger collaboration between the government and private sector to make local production viable, noting that the absence of state-owned engine manufacturers has hindered progress in both public and private initiatives.

Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director at PRAN-RFL Group, said while the global agro-processing market is valued at $4 trillion, Bangladesh currently accounts for only $1 billion, meaning the country has significant potential in this sector.

However, he noted that gaps in product variety and quality prevent many producers from meeting high international standards.

Kamal also criticised the complex regulatory process for agricultural exports, which "requires approvals from 18 different departments", raising both costs and timelines.

He argued that a one-stop service and stronger country branding are essential, alongside improvements in quality control and internationally accredited laboratories.

Currently, he said many tests must be conducted abroad, as Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) standards are not recognised globally. Ensuring quality from farm to table, he said, is critical to guaranteeing safe food.

Md Fazlul Kader, managing director of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, talked about the importance of mechanisation and adopting modern agricultural technologies, which he described as key to reducing costs, increasing revenue, and elevating agriculture into a dignified profession.

Locally adapted machinery, carefully planned subsidies, and active involvement of extension workers, he noted, are crucial for farmers to fully benefit from mechanisation.

Arifur Rahman, project director of the Department of Agricultural Extension's exportable mango production project, said over the past five years, mango exports have tripled while imports have fallen to zero.

Bangladesh now exports mangoes to 38 countries, he stated, adding that expanding into European markets remains a possibility, though high transport and air freight costs, coupled with limited cargo space, continue to constrain growth.

Shahanuare Shaid Shahin, president of the BAJF, underlined that political commitment is essential to safeguard farmers' interests. "Every political party must include a clear and long-term strategy on this issue in their election manifesto."