Rajshahi\\\'s agriculture sector needs foreign investment, say speakers

FE Team | Published: November 15, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

RAJSHAHI, Nov 14 (BSS): Foreign investment towards agriculture and its processing sector in Rajshahi has become an urgent need for making the sector more value added and vibrant, speakers at a discussion here have said.
They expressed the view that if the investment were enhanced substantially, the agricultural sector along with the ICT sector might fetch an unprecedented success for the region. Quick implementation of the proposed Hi-tech Park in Rajshahi could be the effective means of flourishing the agro-based economy.
The observations came at a workshop styled "Foreign Investment in Rajshahi Agriculture: Problems and Prospects" held at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner in Rajshahi yesterday.
Board of Investment (BoI) and the District Administration jointly organised the programme where upazila chairmen, Upazila Nirbahi Officers and officials attended.
With Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury in the chair, District Fisheries Officer Golam Rabbani, District Animal Resources Officer Dr Mijanur Rahman and Charghat Upazila Chairman Abu Sayeed Chand, among others, spoke on the occasion.
During his keynote presentation, Deputy Director of BoI Sonjoy Chakravarty revealed that the volume of investment in Rajshahi since 1971 to 2013 was only 0.014 per cent. The figure is very negligible towards enriching the export list besides minimising the existing gap between export and import.
Referring to the existing statistics in various developed and developing countries he said foreign investment is always supportive towards rising labourers' value besides boosting their competent numbers.
He underscored the need for setting up agro-processing industries to ensure maximum utilisation of agricultural products.
Establishment of agro-processing industries would encourage the farmers to grow more high valued products for their higher income. He termed industrialisation the most relevant indicator of the country's progress and prosperity.
The agro-based industries constitute about 50 per cent of the country's total industries, employing 60 per cent of the total labour forces in the industrial sector.
Sonjoy added that government's will is very important towards accelerating the foreign investment. Because, the foreigners aren't interested in investing if there is any political instability.
Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin said local infrastructure, legal framework, unskilled labourers and political instability are the main obstacles towards foreign investment.
Prospect of agro-processing enterprises in the region is bright as it produces surplus crops especially food-grains, fruits and vegetables. The region has enormous potential for making agro-processing enterprises sustainable and profitable as it produces varieties of fruits and vegetables contributing a lot to the national economy.
He focused on the potential in agricultural and ICT sectors with special emphasis on value added agro-processing opportunities and agro-based industries.
It could add to the industrialisation efforts of agro-based and agro-processing industry for a sustainable and well formed linkage of production, processing and marketing.