Diversification of jute goods stressed for earning increased forex
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Bangladesh can earn huge amounts of foreign exchange by giving a boost to jute production and diversifying jute goods as their demand is on the rise in the global market, said Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, reports UNB.
"I think there is still huge potentials if we can diversity the jute products and increase its productivity," he told the inaugural session of a two-day training programme Wednesday.
The training programme, titled 'Bangladesh agriculture enumeration 2007: First zonal operation-training for the master trainers', was held at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) auditorium in the city.
BBS Director General AYM Ekramul Huq presided over the inaugural session where Planning Secretary Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury was present as the special guest.
The adviser said, foreign exchange earning from agricultural products has declined, as jute and jute goods have lost their market.
About the prospect of cotton cultivation, the Adviser said, "If we can utilise our land for cotton cultivation, a new era will open up for the country."
He said, agriculture plays a pivotal role in the first step of any economy, as it helps ensure food security and maintain a stable labour price, gearing up the pace of industrialisation.
But, the adviser said, in the second phase of the economy the contribution of agriculture gradually declines.
He said the contribution of agriculture to the country's gross national income (GNI) is 21 per cent, which was more than 60 per cent just two decades ago.
"The role of agriculture in revenue collection has also declined, but it does not mean that agriculture doesn't play a vital role in the national economy," he said.
"I think there is still huge potentials if we can diversity the jute products and increase its productivity," he told the inaugural session of a two-day training programme Wednesday.
The training programme, titled 'Bangladesh agriculture enumeration 2007: First zonal operation-training for the master trainers', was held at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) auditorium in the city.
BBS Director General AYM Ekramul Huq presided over the inaugural session where Planning Secretary Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury was present as the special guest.
The adviser said, foreign exchange earning from agricultural products has declined, as jute and jute goods have lost their market.
About the prospect of cotton cultivation, the Adviser said, "If we can utilise our land for cotton cultivation, a new era will open up for the country."
He said, agriculture plays a pivotal role in the first step of any economy, as it helps ensure food security and maintain a stable labour price, gearing up the pace of industrialisation.
But, the adviser said, in the second phase of the economy the contribution of agriculture gradually declines.
He said the contribution of agriculture to the country's gross national income (GNI) is 21 per cent, which was more than 60 per cent just two decades ago.
"The role of agriculture in revenue collection has also declined, but it does not mean that agriculture doesn't play a vital role in the national economy," he said.