Tk 5.40b allocated as cash subsidy on diesel for irrigation
FE Report | Tuesday, 10 June 2008
The government has given special thrust on the development of country's agriculture sector in the just announced budget by raising its expenditures - both development and non-development - by 6.54 per cent to Tk 64.99 billion from the current year's revised budget.
In order to help the farmers reduce their cultivation costs, the finance and planning adviser Mirza Azizul Islam Monday proposed to allocate Tk 5.40 billion as cash subsidy on diesel to be used for irrigation purpose.
The government, for the first time, distributed Tk 2.5 billion as cash subsidy among 65,93,872 farmers for using diesel-powered irrigation pumps in the outgoing Boro season, he mentioned.
In addition to the regular allocation for agriculture extension and research, the adviser also proposed to allocate Tk 2.72 billion in the development and non-development budget for agricultural development assistance and rehabilitation in the next fiscal.
A Tk 3.50-billion fund, which was created last year to strengthen research for increased agricultural productivity, is already operational, he noted.
The adviser, however, said the government is taking initiatives to put in place a set of policies to minimise misuse of arable lands and to bring fallow lands under cultivation.
Under this policy, steps will also be taken to build compact townships so that the pressure on agricultural land for house building purposes is reduced.
Besides, efforts are underway to formulate upazila-based action plans for increased production of all kinds of crops, he mentioned.
"To bring about increased agricultural production, there are no alternatives but to strengthen efforts to innovate and apply HYV (high yielding variety) crops, ensure availability of quality seeds, introduce integrated crop management and widen irrigation facilities," Dr. Aziz said.
In order to help the farmers reduce their cultivation costs, the finance and planning adviser Mirza Azizul Islam Monday proposed to allocate Tk 5.40 billion as cash subsidy on diesel to be used for irrigation purpose.
The government, for the first time, distributed Tk 2.5 billion as cash subsidy among 65,93,872 farmers for using diesel-powered irrigation pumps in the outgoing Boro season, he mentioned.
In addition to the regular allocation for agriculture extension and research, the adviser also proposed to allocate Tk 2.72 billion in the development and non-development budget for agricultural development assistance and rehabilitation in the next fiscal.
A Tk 3.50-billion fund, which was created last year to strengthen research for increased agricultural productivity, is already operational, he noted.
The adviser, however, said the government is taking initiatives to put in place a set of policies to minimise misuse of arable lands and to bring fallow lands under cultivation.
Under this policy, steps will also be taken to build compact townships so that the pressure on agricultural land for house building purposes is reduced.
Besides, efforts are underway to formulate upazila-based action plans for increased production of all kinds of crops, he mentioned.
"To bring about increased agricultural production, there are no alternatives but to strengthen efforts to innovate and apply HYV (high yielding variety) crops, ensure availability of quality seeds, introduce integrated crop management and widen irrigation facilities," Dr. Aziz said.