Mirza Aziz rules out absolute crop deficit in country
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam Monday brushed away any absolute crop deficit in the country following the back-to-back devastating floods and cyclone and said the government would make necessary import and provide food at cut prices, if need be, reports UNB.
"If necessary, we'll buy food grains at higher prices. I don't think that people will be left unfed," he said after attending a seminar on 'Development of Northern Region: Problems and Solutions' at the National Press Club.
North Bengal Journalists' Forum organised the seminar where Finance Adviser spoke as the chief guest, assuring that plans are in the making to ensure balanced development of all parts of the country, with special focus on the less-developed areas.
In this context, the agriculture, finance and planning adviser of the caretaker government agreed on the plea for drawing immediate plans for exploring and extracting mineral resources in the north, including high-quality coal, limestone and hard rock.
"The national coal policy will be announced soon," he told the function, observing that there is no logic in holding down people in poverty keeping wealth under the ground.
Dr Aziz wouldn't agree that the country is now experiencing economic stagnation.
He stressed better production of Boro crops and import of foodstuffs to make up for the losses caused by natural calamities.
Earlier, the adviser at a two-day workshop on 'Changes and Innovations in Food and Agriculture System in Bangladesh: Implications from Pro-poor Growth' stressed the need of increasing productivity in food cropping to recoup the loss caused by the recent floods and cyclone.
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Bangladesh Rice Foundation, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and the International Food Policy Research Institute jointly organised the workshop at BRAC Inn Center.
"But it is not possible to increase the productivity to fulfil the losses in a season; that's why we are putting emphasis on research and development of agriculture sector," Dr Aziz said.
Responding to a question, the Adviser said the government would strengthen the social safety net, like Open Market sale (OMS) and VGF, to help the affected people.
"If necessary, we'll buy food grains at higher prices. I don't think that people will be left unfed," he said after attending a seminar on 'Development of Northern Region: Problems and Solutions' at the National Press Club.
North Bengal Journalists' Forum organised the seminar where Finance Adviser spoke as the chief guest, assuring that plans are in the making to ensure balanced development of all parts of the country, with special focus on the less-developed areas.
In this context, the agriculture, finance and planning adviser of the caretaker government agreed on the plea for drawing immediate plans for exploring and extracting mineral resources in the north, including high-quality coal, limestone and hard rock.
"The national coal policy will be announced soon," he told the function, observing that there is no logic in holding down people in poverty keeping wealth under the ground.
Dr Aziz wouldn't agree that the country is now experiencing economic stagnation.
He stressed better production of Boro crops and import of foodstuffs to make up for the losses caused by natural calamities.
Earlier, the adviser at a two-day workshop on 'Changes and Innovations in Food and Agriculture System in Bangladesh: Implications from Pro-poor Growth' stressed the need of increasing productivity in food cropping to recoup the loss caused by the recent floods and cyclone.
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Bangladesh Rice Foundation, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and the International Food Policy Research Institute jointly organised the workshop at BRAC Inn Center.
"But it is not possible to increase the productivity to fulfil the losses in a season; that's why we are putting emphasis on research and development of agriculture sector," Dr Aziz said.
Responding to a question, the Adviser said the government would strengthen the social safety net, like Open Market sale (OMS) and VGF, to help the affected people.