The government may allow rescheduling of agriculture loans, considering the political unrest in the last three years when farmers failed to repay credit, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Tuesday.
However, he said no decision is yet to be taken regarding loan waiver of the distressed farmers.
Speaking on the occasion of presenting 'Krishi Budget' in the ministry's conference room, Muhith said there would be no dramatic change in the next budget in providing incentives to the farm sector.
The minister noted Bangladesh's transportation sector has made remarkable improvements but "we need to build some warehouses to enable farmers to preserve their produce at bigger points and sell those directly (instead of to middlemen) and get good price".
He said Bangladeshi farmers have brought diversification in agriculture. "We can be proud of it. Now, apart from traditional crops, various types of fruits are also being produced."
Muhith also said the diversification has also brought changes in food content of people in the country.
He termed the fisheries and poultry sector a 'success story', but said there is no achievement in the livestock sector. "We are still weak in milk and meat production."
Praising farmers for raising food-grain production the minister said presently the country is producing some 37 million tonnes of grains per year despite arable land getting reduced constantly.
The minister made a frank admission that the government was not successful in providing loan to farmers.
"During the last couple of years, farm sector got a negligible amount of loan. A big portion of allocation for agriculture loan of Bangladesh Krishi Bank went for commercial purpose when Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled was its chairman. He can be termed king of commercial loan."
He said the central bank has, however, achieved a success in this case. It could push private-sector banks to disburse farm loan.
The finance minister maintained that the recent violence by political parties could not harm the country's economy. The unrest was a "plot" against the country's interest, he said.
Director of Channel-I Shykh Seraj presented the budget proposal styled 'Krishi Budget Krishoker Budget' wherein he put forward 57-point recommendation for government's consideration.
He described the experiences he gathered from pre-budget discussions with farmers in Panchagarh, Tangail, and Khulna districts.
Mr Seraj said farmers had been hit hard by the political unrest in last three years. Despite producing a lot, they could not sell Boro rice or get low price and incurred significant losses.
"These farmers have become victim of political unrest and failed to pay back loan. Some have demanded loan waiver while some requested for reschedule of loan."
He said farmers have demanded that political parties find out alternative types of protest instead of hartals and strikes.
Mr Seraj thanked the government for helping mechanise ploughing which has brought down production cost of crops.
He requested the government to provide policy support to farmers alongside providing incentives and allocating large sums for agriculture sector.
His recommendations include: providing incentives to farmers who suffered losses because of political unrest, devising new marketing mechanisms for farm products, step to dredge rivers and canals, introducing crop-insurance system, forming price commission for agri-products, and establishing fertiliser factories.
syful-islam@outlook.com
Farm loan reschedules likely
FE Report | Published: May 13, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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