PM for exploiting global organic food market

Stressing the importance of diversifying the country's export basket with various agro-products, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh can exploit the opportunity of exporting organic foods as those have huge demand in the global market.

A special demand for organic foods has been created across the globe, she said, adding that the prices of organic foods are much higher than the foods produced through chemical fertilisers.

Hasina was addressing a function after handing over the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award 1420 to some 28 individuals and four organisations at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

The prime minister also underlined the need for greater investment in agro-based industries in 100 economic zones being set up across the country.

Once the 100 economic zones are set up, she said, the country will be able to earn more foreign currencies through producing, processing and exporting agro-based products.

"Bangladesh is no longer a country of food deficit…it has attained food autarky and also made its place in global arena in many things, including rice, wheat, fish, vegetable and fruit production," she said, urging people not to keep their land fallow and maintain the production momentum.

On the country's economic progress, Hasina said no one will be able to undermine Bangladesh as it has demonstrated its strength by going for constructing Padma Bridge with its own fund.

Apart from boosting the agricultural production, steps should continue so that the farmers get the due prices of their produces alongside diversifying the export basket of the agricultural products through setting up more agro-processed factories, Hasina said.

The prime minister renewed her firm resolve to turn Bangladesh into a hunger- and poverty-free middle-income country by 2021.

Hasina said the Food and Agriculture Organization awarded Bangladesh in recognition of its achievement in agriculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture organised the function.