Govt to ensure interests of farmers: Motia
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury Tuesday said, the government would ensure the interests of the farmers and protect them from any distressed situation, reports BSS.
The Agriculture Minister urged the entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector for serving the farmers by doing business complying with the rules. "Don't only enhance sale of your product, also ensure that the farmers are provided with quality seeds and fertilisers so that they can produce higher crops," she added.
The Agriculture Minister made the observation while speaking at the inaugural function of a three-day "Bangladesh Seed Conference and Seed Fair-2009" at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city Tuesday.
Agriculture Secretary CQK Mustak Ahmed presided over the conference. Agriculturalist Sawkat Momen Shahjahan addressed as the special guest.
The Minister said, there is a policy on hi-breed seeds in the country and it would be upgraded to make it time befitting.
"Everyone should perform their duties complying with the policy", she said adding, concerned organisations would be compelled to compensate if the farmers are deceived purchasing seeds from that organisation.
Mentioning about the importance of cooperatives, she said, there are cooperative farming in the capitalist societies like Italy, and farmers could be helped from cooperative farming.
The traders have to decide whether they would perform their business through cooperatives rather than syndication, Motia Chowdhury told seed traders. "The government wants that the farmers are not deceived," she said adding, "The government wants to extend its helping hands for the farmers as they want to raise the production."
Emphasising on the need for producing high yield local seeds through researches she said the country should not only depend on foreign high breed seeds. "We have to protect local high seeds," she said adding, "Local seeds should be turned into high yielding seeds."
Later, the Minister inaugurated the Seed Fair 2009 and visited different stalls at the fair.
A total of 53 organisations including 20 government agriculture related agencies, two Chinese and one US organisation and FAO have opened a total of 100 stalls at the fair to display various farm products.
The Agriculture Minister urged the entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector for serving the farmers by doing business complying with the rules. "Don't only enhance sale of your product, also ensure that the farmers are provided with quality seeds and fertilisers so that they can produce higher crops," she added.
The Agriculture Minister made the observation while speaking at the inaugural function of a three-day "Bangladesh Seed Conference and Seed Fair-2009" at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city Tuesday.
Agriculture Secretary CQK Mustak Ahmed presided over the conference. Agriculturalist Sawkat Momen Shahjahan addressed as the special guest.
The Minister said, there is a policy on hi-breed seeds in the country and it would be upgraded to make it time befitting.
"Everyone should perform their duties complying with the policy", she said adding, concerned organisations would be compelled to compensate if the farmers are deceived purchasing seeds from that organisation.
Mentioning about the importance of cooperatives, she said, there are cooperative farming in the capitalist societies like Italy, and farmers could be helped from cooperative farming.
The traders have to decide whether they would perform their business through cooperatives rather than syndication, Motia Chowdhury told seed traders. "The government wants that the farmers are not deceived," she said adding, "The government wants to extend its helping hands for the farmers as they want to raise the production."
Emphasising on the need for producing high yield local seeds through researches she said the country should not only depend on foreign high breed seeds. "We have to protect local high seeds," she said adding, "Local seeds should be turned into high yielding seeds."
Later, the Minister inaugurated the Seed Fair 2009 and visited different stalls at the fair.
A total of 53 organisations including 20 government agriculture related agencies, two Chinese and one US organisation and FAO have opened a total of 100 stalls at the fair to display various farm products.