Revision of investment policy in farm sector suggested
Sunday, 14 March 2010
FE Report
Speakers at a seminar suggested the government to revise investment policy in the farm sector as well as to introduce agri- insurance scheme for marginal farmers in assisting adaptation to climate change in the country.
It is essential to revise investment policy in the farm sector to ensure food security of the country and to boost the growth of the agriculture sector against the backdrop of global climate change, they said.
The seminar on 'Investment and Finance in Agriculture' was held at the National Press Club recently, on the second day of the agri-symposium organised by the Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), an alliance of 200 local, national and international development and civil society organisations.
Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled, chairman of the Board of Directors, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, chaired the seminar. Abu Ahmed of the Economics Department of the University of Dhaka, Shamsuzaman Dudu, general secretary of the Jaityatabadi Krishak Dal, Monzur Ahmed, adviser of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), and Abul Kalam Azad, vice president of Bangladesh Krishak League attended the programme as special guests.
Iqbal Ahmed, policy officer in the Department of Policy and Advocacy in Oxfam GB Bangladesh, Mehruna Islam Chowdhury, associate researcher of the Unnyaon Onneshon, Mizanur Rahman, executive director of the Centre for Environment and Climate Change Studies Society (CERCCSS), Insurance expert Dr Abdul Mannan presented four key-note papers on Investment in Agriculture, Agricultural Credit Services, Crop Insurance and Insurance for assisting adaptation to climate change.
The speakers said supporting credit scheme for marginalised farmers by public and private institutions and reintroduction of crop insurance in the country are keys to sustainable growth of the agriculture sector since various implication of climate change such as flash-floods and cyclones like Aila and Sidr are taking heavy toll on this sector which have been the key driver of economic growth.
Iqbal Ahmed said that macro-economic policy framework of the country in regard to the agri-investment needs urgent review against the backdrop of changing demographical and geographical structure of the country with the current trend of booming population and climate change. He said the government strategy should be revised in order to increase investment in agriculture with an aim to support small farming.
He further said, "macro economic policy of the country must consider different agrarian structure of different regions of the country.'
Mizanur Rahman said UNFCCC process has acknowledged that agri insurance can play a vital part in adaptation to climate change for marginalised farmers.
Speakers at a seminar suggested the government to revise investment policy in the farm sector as well as to introduce agri- insurance scheme for marginal farmers in assisting adaptation to climate change in the country.
It is essential to revise investment policy in the farm sector to ensure food security of the country and to boost the growth of the agriculture sector against the backdrop of global climate change, they said.
The seminar on 'Investment and Finance in Agriculture' was held at the National Press Club recently, on the second day of the agri-symposium organised by the Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), an alliance of 200 local, national and international development and civil society organisations.
Khondokar Ibrahim Khaled, chairman of the Board of Directors, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, chaired the seminar. Abu Ahmed of the Economics Department of the University of Dhaka, Shamsuzaman Dudu, general secretary of the Jaityatabadi Krishak Dal, Monzur Ahmed, adviser of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), and Abul Kalam Azad, vice president of Bangladesh Krishak League attended the programme as special guests.
Iqbal Ahmed, policy officer in the Department of Policy and Advocacy in Oxfam GB Bangladesh, Mehruna Islam Chowdhury, associate researcher of the Unnyaon Onneshon, Mizanur Rahman, executive director of the Centre for Environment and Climate Change Studies Society (CERCCSS), Insurance expert Dr Abdul Mannan presented four key-note papers on Investment in Agriculture, Agricultural Credit Services, Crop Insurance and Insurance for assisting adaptation to climate change.
The speakers said supporting credit scheme for marginalised farmers by public and private institutions and reintroduction of crop insurance in the country are keys to sustainable growth of the agriculture sector since various implication of climate change such as flash-floods and cyclones like Aila and Sidr are taking heavy toll on this sector which have been the key driver of economic growth.
Iqbal Ahmed said that macro-economic policy framework of the country in regard to the agri-investment needs urgent review against the backdrop of changing demographical and geographical structure of the country with the current trend of booming population and climate change. He said the government strategy should be revised in order to increase investment in agriculture with an aim to support small farming.
He further said, "macro economic policy of the country must consider different agrarian structure of different regions of the country.'
Mizanur Rahman said UNFCCC process has acknowledged that agri insurance can play a vital part in adaptation to climate change for marginalised farmers.