We will not import rice; we will export it in future: Food Minister

  • Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Picture: Collected

Picture: Collected

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar said that Bangladesh will not import rice but export it in the near future. He said that the government has not imported rice for the past two years. There will be no need to import rice this time.

He said these things in his speech as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of 'Agriculture Technology Fair-2024' under Rajshahi Division's Agricultural Development Project at Sapahar Upazila Parishad Auditorium on Sunday (July 7).

বিজ্ঞাপন

Referring to the planned and timely action of the government on agricultural incentives, the Food Minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is on the side of farmers with agricultural incentives and subsidies. She is working tirelessly to make agriculture technology friendly. If the incentives being distributed today are properly utilized, more land will be cultivated and production will also increase.

The Food Minister said that due to the well-thought-out thinking of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the use of machinery in agriculture has increased to grow more crops on less land. The use of technology to ensure food security for a larger population is a boon for farmers. Also, as per the instructions of the Prime Minister, the fallow land is also being cultivated now.

He said, it is said that the price of the product is increasing. But no one is taking the information about the production cost of the farmer. If the price increases, it is the problem of the consumer and if the price of the product decreases, it is the problem of the farmer.

Mentioning that the farmers will be discouraged from production if the cost of production is not increased, he said that rice flour is being sold at the subsidized price through OMS and TCB, the food friendly program of the government for the low income people of the society.

Earlier, he inaugurated the 3-day long 'Agricultural Technology Fair' at Sapahar Upazila Parishad premises and visited the stalls.

Under the chairmanship of Sapahar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Masud Hossain, Upazila Parishad Chairman Md Shahjahan Hossain, Upazila Vice Chairman Naeemuddin, Female Vice Chairman Fahima Khatun, Upazila Awami League General Secretary Md. Masud Reza Sarwar, Upazila Agriculture Officer Shapla Khatun and Shironti Union Parishad Chairman Borhan Uddin spoke on occasion.

Later, the Food Minister distributed government savings incentives to farmers and distributed education stipend checks and bicycles to minority students.

It may be noted that 5 kg seeds, 10 kg DAP and 10 kg MOP fertilizers were distributed to each of 1210 farmers as Aman incentive in the 2023-24 financial year.