Providing subsidy directly to farmers stressed
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Speakers at a workshop Monday underscored the need for providing agro subsidy directly to farmers using power tillers and threshing machines, for enhancing agricultural production in the country, reports BSS.
For optimum use of the subsidy being provided to the agriculture sector, the speakers suggested devising comprehensive modalities with strict monitoring mechanism and issuance of entitlement cards to the beneficiaries.
The day-long national workshop on 'Strengthening Agriculture Mechanisation: Policies and Implementation Strategies' was organised by Agriculture Engineering Department in the conference room of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) at Farmgate in the city.
Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Abdul Aziz spoke at the inaugural function as the chief guest, while BARC Executive Chairman Mohammad Nurul Alam was in the chair.
Vice Chancellor (VC) of Jessore Science and Technology University (JSTU) Rafiqul Islam Sarker presented the keynote paper and ATM Ziauddin of Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mohammad Harun-ur Rashid, director general of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), and Mohammad Jahangir Hossain, general secretary of Agriculture Machinery Manufacturers Association, deliberated on the paper.
The agriculture secretary underscored the need for establishing a national centre on agricultural machinery for development, testing and evaluation to serve the needs of the public and private sectors.
He also disagreed with the notion that developed agro-mechanisation might affect the country's labour intensive workforce and said it would rather reduce production cost and increase employment in the non-farm sector.
The JSTU VC made a set of policy recommendations including providing technical support and tax relief to imported raw materials of agricultural machinery for reducing dependence on foreign machines and fuels, to create employment and to help growth of economy.
He said every year a large number of power tillers and small diesel engines are being imported mainly from China. A feasibility study should be undertaken soon to see the benefits of establishing at least two joint-venture industries for production of power tillers and small diesel engines at home, he said.
Sarker called for formulating a comprehensive agriculture mechanisation policy and establishing a high-level advisory committee to advise the government on agricultural mechanisation issues and policies.
Adequate funds should be provided to capable institutions for research, development and extension works and an agricultural machinery database must be prepared to facilitate the research work, he recommended.
About 60 high officials of different departments of Ministry of Agriculture, experts of agriculture research institutions, universities and representatives of NGOs and private enterprises participated in the workshop.
For optimum use of the subsidy being provided to the agriculture sector, the speakers suggested devising comprehensive modalities with strict monitoring mechanism and issuance of entitlement cards to the beneficiaries.
The day-long national workshop on 'Strengthening Agriculture Mechanisation: Policies and Implementation Strategies' was organised by Agriculture Engineering Department in the conference room of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) at Farmgate in the city.
Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Abdul Aziz spoke at the inaugural function as the chief guest, while BARC Executive Chairman Mohammad Nurul Alam was in the chair.
Vice Chancellor (VC) of Jessore Science and Technology University (JSTU) Rafiqul Islam Sarker presented the keynote paper and ATM Ziauddin of Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mohammad Harun-ur Rashid, director general of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), and Mohammad Jahangir Hossain, general secretary of Agriculture Machinery Manufacturers Association, deliberated on the paper.
The agriculture secretary underscored the need for establishing a national centre on agricultural machinery for development, testing and evaluation to serve the needs of the public and private sectors.
He also disagreed with the notion that developed agro-mechanisation might affect the country's labour intensive workforce and said it would rather reduce production cost and increase employment in the non-farm sector.
The JSTU VC made a set of policy recommendations including providing technical support and tax relief to imported raw materials of agricultural machinery for reducing dependence on foreign machines and fuels, to create employment and to help growth of economy.
He said every year a large number of power tillers and small diesel engines are being imported mainly from China. A feasibility study should be undertaken soon to see the benefits of establishing at least two joint-venture industries for production of power tillers and small diesel engines at home, he said.
Sarker called for formulating a comprehensive agriculture mechanisation policy and establishing a high-level advisory committee to advise the government on agricultural mechanisation issues and policies.
Adequate funds should be provided to capable institutions for research, development and extension works and an agricultural machinery database must be prepared to facilitate the research work, he recommended.
About 60 high officials of different departments of Ministry of Agriculture, experts of agriculture research institutions, universities and representatives of NGOs and private enterprises participated in the workshop.