UNB, Dhaka :
Criticising the foreign donors’ suggestions not to provide subsidy on agriculture, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury on Wednesday said the government will continue its subsidy to the agriculture sector following its own policy.
“They (donors) suggest us not to provide subsidy to the agriculture sector. But question is: do not they provide subsidy on agriculture? We decide what we will do or won’t do,” she said at the inaugural session of a workshop in the capital.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) organised the workshop on ‘Evidence-Based Policy Options for Food and Nutrition Security in Bangladesh’ at Sonargaon Hotel.
Chaired by Food Minister Adv Quamrul Islam, the inaugural session of the workshop was also addressed, among others, by USAID mission director Janina Jaruzelski, IFPRI director general Dr Shenggen Fan and IFPRI’s chief of party Dr Akhter Ahmed.
Speaking as the chief guest, Matia Chowdhury said that as a result of providing subsidy on agriculture, Bangladesh is going to export rice for the first time.
“We imported pesticide of Tk 168 crore only in last year due to subsidising farmers as agricultural plants grow up resistance against pests,” she said.
The Agriculture Minister said donors always welcome import of pesticides but suggest not providing subsidy to the agriculture sector.
About the country’s progress, she said Bangladesh has achieved tremendous progress in food production and agriculture over the years. “However, our country increasingly faces challenges of rapid population growth, urbanisation and climate change.”
Considering all these issues, Matia said, the government has undertaken farmer-friendly measures and is providing subsidy to them aiming to increase crop production in the country.
She said the government has given priority on innovation of new varieties of crops, tolerant to adverse climate like flood, salinity and drought. “Policy research must be prioritized for the development of agriculture.”
The Agriculture Minister stressed addressing the malnutrition problem, modernising food supply system, and strengthening social safety net programmes and institutional capacity to ensure the country’s food security.
Food Minister Quamrul Islam said Bangladesh has already achieved a marked progress in all socioeconomic indicators.
“Our agricultural GDP has grown at a rate of more than two percent over the past two years. We have increased rice production from 29.8 million tons in 2007-08 to 33.8 million tons in 2012-13,” he said. “We will export rice to Sri Lanka soon and it is our great achievement.”
The Food Minister said the other side of the problem of food security is reflected in the widespread malnutrition, particularly child and maternal malnutrition.
“Our goal is to reduce the extent of malnutrition within the shortest possible period by effectively implementing comprehensive food security policy and strategies,” he added.
