Boro farmers to get 'Tk 3.5b diesel subsidy'
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Farmers will receive cash subsidies for diesel through the coming Boro season, at an estimated cost to the government of Tk 3.5 billion (350 crore), Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury said Tuesday, reports bdnews24.com.
"We've decided on the subsidy. How and exactly when it should be handed will be settled after consulting the Prime Minister and cabinet members," Motia told reporters at the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC).
The fuel subsidy will be given to farmers having a highest ceiling of 3.0 bighas (1.0 acre) of farmland.
An agriculture ministry official said that a primary analysis indicated that about 9.0 million farmers would need the diesel subsidies.
They will get a subsidy of Tk 5.00 per litre. Price of diesel is currently Tk 44 per litre.
About 35 litres of diesel is required to irrigate one Bigha of farmland of Boro paddy.
This year, an estimated 19 million tonnes of Boro rice had been targeted on about 4.7 million hectares of farmland.
In the fiscal 2007-'08 during the caretaker government's rule, farmers were given Tk 2.49 billion as cash subsidies for diesel purchase in the Boro season.
The current fiscal budget has an allocation of Tk 36 billion as agriculture subsidies, the bulk of which is being spent in buying fertiliser.
"We've decided on the subsidy. How and exactly when it should be handed will be settled after consulting the Prime Minister and cabinet members," Motia told reporters at the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC).
The fuel subsidy will be given to farmers having a highest ceiling of 3.0 bighas (1.0 acre) of farmland.
An agriculture ministry official said that a primary analysis indicated that about 9.0 million farmers would need the diesel subsidies.
They will get a subsidy of Tk 5.00 per litre. Price of diesel is currently Tk 44 per litre.
About 35 litres of diesel is required to irrigate one Bigha of farmland of Boro paddy.
This year, an estimated 19 million tonnes of Boro rice had been targeted on about 4.7 million hectares of farmland.
In the fiscal 2007-'08 during the caretaker government's rule, farmers were given Tk 2.49 billion as cash subsidies for diesel purchase in the Boro season.
The current fiscal budget has an allocation of Tk 36 billion as agriculture subsidies, the bulk of which is being spent in buying fertiliser.