Aman production to surpass target by 5m tonnes: Matia
Thursday, 24 December 2009
FE Report
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury dismissed Wednesday experts' speculations over a shortfall in the 'Aman' production, saying the food-grain output could surpass the target by at least 5.0 million tonnes this season.
"Even if the per hectare yield and total cultivated area are conservatively calculated at 2.45 tonnes and 4.56 million hectares, the country's Aman output should be not less than 13.2 million tonnes in the current harvesting season," the agriculture minister said.
She was speaking as the chief guest at a dialogue on "Achieving Boro production target in the FY 2009-10: Challenges and action required', organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the city's CIRDAP auditorium. CPD Executive Chairman Reman Sobhan presided over the function.
Senior Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former state minister for agriculture Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Agriculture Secretary CQK Mostak Ahmed, Chairman of the Centre for Agri Research and Sustainable Environment and Entrepreneurship Development Z Karim and Executive Director of the BRAC Mahabub Hossain spoke in the dialogue.
Head of CPD Research Division Uttam Deb presented the keynote paper of the dialogue, which was largely participated by law makers, agriculturists and agri-researchers.
Ms. Matia's observation on the Aman output came after the keynote speaker and Dr. Mahabub Hossain cast their doubts over a target shortfall in the crop production.
She also gave thanks to the farmers for their extra efforts for exceeding the 2.7-million tonnes Aman production target despite facing a drought-like situation in the crop cultivation.
The agriculture minister, however, said late rains along with the government's steps to facilitate irrigation in the drought-hit Barind area helped farmers harvest such a robust Aman output.
She also accused the private seed operators of charging much higher prices of seeds than that of the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (DADC).
In his speech, Mr. Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stressed the need for boosting the domestic food-grain production though protecting the farmers' interest for the sake of the country's food security.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury dismissed Wednesday experts' speculations over a shortfall in the 'Aman' production, saying the food-grain output could surpass the target by at least 5.0 million tonnes this season.
"Even if the per hectare yield and total cultivated area are conservatively calculated at 2.45 tonnes and 4.56 million hectares, the country's Aman output should be not less than 13.2 million tonnes in the current harvesting season," the agriculture minister said.
She was speaking as the chief guest at a dialogue on "Achieving Boro production target in the FY 2009-10: Challenges and action required', organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the city's CIRDAP auditorium. CPD Executive Chairman Reman Sobhan presided over the function.
Senior Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former state minister for agriculture Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Agriculture Secretary CQK Mostak Ahmed, Chairman of the Centre for Agri Research and Sustainable Environment and Entrepreneurship Development Z Karim and Executive Director of the BRAC Mahabub Hossain spoke in the dialogue.
Head of CPD Research Division Uttam Deb presented the keynote paper of the dialogue, which was largely participated by law makers, agriculturists and agri-researchers.
Ms. Matia's observation on the Aman output came after the keynote speaker and Dr. Mahabub Hossain cast their doubts over a target shortfall in the crop production.
She also gave thanks to the farmers for their extra efforts for exceeding the 2.7-million tonnes Aman production target despite facing a drought-like situation in the crop cultivation.
The agriculture minister, however, said late rains along with the government's steps to facilitate irrigation in the drought-hit Barind area helped farmers harvest such a robust Aman output.
She also accused the private seed operators of charging much higher prices of seeds than that of the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (DADC).
In his speech, Mr. Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stressed the need for boosting the domestic food-grain production though protecting the farmers' interest for the sake of the country's food security.