Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid on Monday said the recurring crisis in the country’s rawhide sector is rooted more in technical and management failures than in any organized “leather syndicate.”
Talking to journalists after a farm machinery distribution programme organized by the Department of Agricultural Extension at Adarsha Sadar Upazila in Comilla, he said improper preservation and poor handling of sacrificial animal hides are the key reasons behind the market instability during Eid-ul-Azha.
“The term ‘leather syndicate’ is largely a public perception,” he said. “Rawhide is highly sensitive. Without timely and proper salting, it deteriorates quickly. If preservation improves, tannery owners will naturally pay better prices.”
He noted that nearly 60 to 70% of hides collected during Eid are graded as lower quality because of damage caused while removing the skin from animals. However, he expressed optimism that the situation would improve in the coming years, adding that 20,000 to 22,000 people have already received training on proper leather preservation techniques.
The minister also highlighted the government’s broader focus on strengthening the country’s agriculture-based economy. He said most of the government’s policy commitments are centered on agriculture, as nearly 75% of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on the sector.
“If agriculture prospers, the economic condition of the people will also improve,” he said.
At the event, farmers received various agricultural machines, including paddy harvesters, corn threshers, LLP machines and hand sprayers under the Sustainable Agricultural Technology Extension Project for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
Officials said 3,432 farmer groups have been formed across three districts in the Comilla region under the project, including 55 groups in Adarsha Sadar Upazila. Initially, 14 groups were provided with agricultural machinery free of cost based on performance evaluations.
Authorities also announced plans to distribute additional farming equipment, including foot pumps, bed planters and paddy threshing machines, within the current fiscal year.