Sunday, April 29, 2012

Farm subsidy will continue: Prime minister Sheikh Hasina


DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Apr 29 Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government will continue subsidising the agriculture despite opposition from different international agencies.

A month before the next budget, the prime minister stressed export of agro-products and processed food at a programme arranged to award Bangabandhu National Krishi Award on Sunday.

She rattled off a list of initiatives her government took to strengthen Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC). "The BADC had been made weaker as per the donors' suggestions. The donors had asked for a cut in subsidy in agriculture during the previous government."

"But we had said that we would continue to subsidise, we would continue to subsidise agriculture," she added at the programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith had indicated that the next year's budget may include subsidies worth Tk 100 billion in agriculture. He did acknowledge subsidy created difficulties for the government but said it was needed to provide the peasants with fertiliser and timely irrigation facilities.

Hasina handed over the awards to 27 people and organisations for their contribution in the agricultural sector. This is the highest state recognition for those working in development of agriculture.

"We need to export agro-products after meeting our own demand. We also have to ensure that we can export processed food too," said Hasina as she urged all to increase food production.

She said the government to achieve food sovereignty and ensure nutrition for every single citizen.

The award-giving ceremony was held amid the countrywide strike enforced by the 18-Party Coalition led by the BNP for 'return' of BNP leader M Ilias Ali.

Hasina said it was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who first created a fund in 1973 to introduce a presidential honour for promoting agricultural development.

Terming the present government 'peasant-friendly,' she said, "We will ensure food security. Our aim is to gain food autarky by 2013."

Referring to reduction of prices of non-urea fertilisers thrice since her government came to office, the prime minister said, "Now fertiliser is waiting for the farmers. I thank the agriculture minister for this success."

Presided over by the agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, the ceremony was also addressed by fisheries and livestock minister Abdul Latif Biswas and environment and forest minister Hassan Mahmud.

Hasina pointed out that budget for the current fiscal provided Tk 65 billion for chemical fertilisers, power and diesel used in irrigation and other facilities for the farmers cultivating sugarcane.

Agricultural machineries were being distributed on 25 percent discount and Tk 3 billion were allocated in the current budget only for this purpose, she added.

Continuous power supply has been ensured from 11pm to 6am every day for uninterrupted irrigation while power cost has been reduced 20 per cent for those using it for irrigation, she added.

Emphasising agricultural research, Hasina said successful decoding of the crucial genome sequence of jute was another success of her government.

The awardees

This year the awards, a certificate, cash and a medal, were given to 27 persons including four women and two institutions in different categories for their outstanding contribution for development of agriculture, fisheries, research, marketing of agro-products, and creating public awareness about agricultural development.

Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) and Horticulture Research Centre of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) and two individuals were given the gold awards. Silver awards went to seven persons while bronze awards were given to 17 persons.

Sabiqun Nahar Sheuli of Adiyabad Union of Roypura upazila of Narsingdi district received the gold award in recognition to contribution of women to agriculture while and Dr SM Afsaruzzaman, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Biswambarpur of Sylhet, received gold award for his outstanding contribution to agriculture expansion.

The silver awards recipients are- AKM Zakaria, Director of Agriculture Science Department of Rural Development Academy, Bogra, Dr Delwar Hossain (posthumously), former chief scientific officer of Pulse and Oil Seeds Research Centre of BARI, Anisa Begum of Pairaband of Mithapukur, Rangpur, Mofizul Islam, sub- assistant horticulture officer of Shariyatpur, Joynal Abedin, sub assistant agriculture officer of Pirganj, Rangpur, Mamunur Rashid, sub assistant officer of Burichang, Comilla and M Sujauddowlla of Bobindi of Saghata of Gaibandha.

The bronze medal recipients are AKM Nurul Haque of Puliamari of Raghabpur, Mymansingh, Neasr Ahmed of Faridganj of Chandpur, Showkat Ali of Nakaihat of Gaibandha, Shahedur Rahman of Dharmapur, Hajirhat of Noakhali, Mosammat Anwara of Natun Char of Keraniganj, Dhaka, Nurun Nahar of Joynagar of Pabna, Ashish Kumar Paul of Kulaora of Moulavibazar, ATM Nasimuzzaman of Shahjibazar of Habiganj, Nizamuddin Faruki of Gandhabyapur of Laxmipur, Moazzen Hossain, agriculture officer of Sarishabari, Jamalpur, Abbas Ali, deputy director of AED, Naogaon, Habibur Rahman of Atgharia of Ishwardi, Pabna, Mizanur Rahman of Alopara, Putiya, Rajshahi, Saiful Alam, agriculture officer of Godabari, Rajshahi, Abul Mia of Char Mohammadpur of South Surma, Sylhet, Raghujit Kumar Guha, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Satkhira and Mokarram Hossain of Bishnupur of Jhikargacha, Jessore.

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