Make agriculture a separate budget segment: Siraz
Monday, 24 May 2010
FE Report
Shyk Siraz, agriculture expert and Channel I director, Sunday urged the government to place the responsibility of agriculture budget announcement separately with the minister concerned in the upcoming budget session with a view to making it people-friendly.
He especially stressed allocation for research and information on technological advancement in the agriculture sector in the upcoming budget.
"Nowadays farmers could get information from different call centres, but it is not sufficient. The information should be within the reach of them and toll free phones should be provided," Shyk Siraz said.
He made these remarks at an interface meeting titled "Selected policy and fiscal issues in agriculture: Budget 2010-2011 in perspective", organised by Unnayan Shammannay at a city hotel.
He suggested introducing new crops to boost production in the country's different zones -- east, west, north and south -- as the weather of these areas has changed in course of time.
Dr Mohammad A Jabbar, former team leader, Market Programme International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, said, "Budget allocation for agriculture should be released and implemented properly."
He said, "Subsidy for the agriculture should continue and credit should be increased in the next budget to boost up this sector."
Mustafa Kabir, research fellow, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) presented a paper on a survey and recommended easier ways to irrigation, seeds, fertiliser, as well as technological development, natural disaster protection, shrimp farming, marketing poultry and dairy for the next budget.
Dr KAS Murshedi focused on institutional development in the upcoming budget rather than subsidies in the agricultural sector.
Shyk Siraz, agriculture expert and Channel I director, Sunday urged the government to place the responsibility of agriculture budget announcement separately with the minister concerned in the upcoming budget session with a view to making it people-friendly.
He especially stressed allocation for research and information on technological advancement in the agriculture sector in the upcoming budget.
"Nowadays farmers could get information from different call centres, but it is not sufficient. The information should be within the reach of them and toll free phones should be provided," Shyk Siraz said.
He made these remarks at an interface meeting titled "Selected policy and fiscal issues in agriculture: Budget 2010-2011 in perspective", organised by Unnayan Shammannay at a city hotel.
He suggested introducing new crops to boost production in the country's different zones -- east, west, north and south -- as the weather of these areas has changed in course of time.
Dr Mohammad A Jabbar, former team leader, Market Programme International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, said, "Budget allocation for agriculture should be released and implemented properly."
He said, "Subsidy for the agriculture should continue and credit should be increased in the next budget to boost up this sector."
Mustafa Kabir, research fellow, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) presented a paper on a survey and recommended easier ways to irrigation, seeds, fertiliser, as well as technological development, natural disaster protection, shrimp farming, marketing poultry and dairy for the next budget.
Dr KAS Murshedi focused on institutional development in the upcoming budget rather than subsidies in the agricultural sector.