Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government had reduced the country’s poverty rate to 24.4% in the last six years and would bring it down to 10% within the next four years.
Describing agriculture as a major source of income, Hasina said Bangladesh would become a middle-income country if more agricultural products could be developed, adding that the country would be able to get out of poverty by 2041.
“To improve the country’s agricultural sector, we have increased subsidy for agriculture products ignoring numerous obstacles from donors. The government is also providing incentives and small loans for farmers in order to increase agricultural products,” the prime minister said while addressing the Bangabandh National Agricultural Award ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
“It is the responsibility of the government to make agricultural components available for farmers. It should also confirm fare prices of agricultural products. Otherwise, farmers will become reluctant to increase production,” she said.
Hasina said the government had taken steps to dredge rivers across the country as part of agricultural development plans, and claimed the move would also prove helpful for the people in char areas.
“The government has extended technological support at union level, creating employment for rural youths at information centres. Farmers now also get novel ideas that involve technological advancement for agricultural development,” she said.
Hasina, also the chief of the Awami League, said the government was striving to build Bangladesh as a self-reliant country, adding: “Children of farmers now have opportunities to work in village by applying their knowledge, which is a positive sign for the agriculture sector.”
The premier emphasised the use of environment-friendly organic fertilisers while suggesting that farmers should reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in the croplands for tackling insects that cause harm to crops. “The excessive use of pesticides not only reduces land fertility but also causes harm to local species of fish in wetlands.”
Hasina also emphasised the use of balanced fertiliser to reduce the dependence on urea fertiliser.
“I think we will have to increase the use of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) and MOP (Muriate of Potash) fertilisers and gradually reduce the use of urea fertiliser,” she said, adding that DAP fertiliser has both urea and phosphate in it.
To reduce the waste of water, Hasina urged farmers to use pipes while irrigating croplands in addition to using solar-based irrigation pumps, arguing that this will reduce dependence on traditional electricity-run pumps.
“Farmers should also be careful about misuse of water at the time of irrigation. This will help save electricity and will also bring down costs of products,” she said.
Hasina stressed constant research on agriculture in order to achieve the goal of eradicating hunger and poverty. She also called on agricultural scientists to extend their support for introducing new crop varieties.
The premier asked farmers to utilise every inch of their lands to produce food for the huge population as farmlands are shrinking for a range of reasons, including construction of new houses, mills, factories and riverbank erosion.
Terming the government a farmer-friendly one, Hasina said it had provided about Tk43,266 crore to farmers in the last six years in terms of seeds, fertilisers, irrigation facility, fuel, and other agricultural inputs.
“The country thus achieved self-sufficiency in food while the production cost has come down, improving the lifestyle of people.
“As a result of various farmer-friendly steps taken by the government, the country’s food production has risen to 3.83 crore metric tonnes last year from 2.79 crore metric tonnes in 2006-2007. For the first time, coarse rice is being exported to Sri Lanka apart from the export of aromatic rice,” she said.
Hasina said the government along with building up a food reserve for contingency is working to ensure balanced food with proper nutrition for all.
This year a total of 30 individuals and organisations won the Bangabandh National Agricultural Award, including five gold, eight silver and 17 bronze medals for outstanding contribution to the field of agriculture.
The prime minister handed over the awards at the programme while Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque and several others were present.