Govt practically not giving priority to agri-sector
- By Super Admin
- Published Sunday 10th 2008
The government is practically not giving priority to the
country's agriculture sector although it is saying that
the highest importance has been given to this vital
sector.
This was disclosed at a round table discussion on 'Media Role in Developing Agriculture in Bangladesh' held at Agriculture Laboratory Building at Farm Gate in city on Saturday. Some 64 agriculture extension officers from 64 districts placed various problems in improving agricultural production.
They said government's commitments and measures for developing the agriculture sector in order to produce more food grains and other produces, would not be implemented due to mismanagement, irregularities and lack of supervision by the assigned authorities. "The seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other equipments sanctioned for the rural farmers, are not reaching them properly.
Farmers have to face difficulties in getting seeds, fertilisers and pesticides as the members and chairmen deal with the total system.
As a result, taking advantage of the system the chairmen
and members are engaged in misusing power and distribute
such essential agricultural materials to their relatives
or other local influential instead of providing service
and ensuring smooth supply to the marginal farmers. We
agriculture officers have nothing to do in this respect,"
the agriculture officers said.
On the other hand, the farmers are also becoming victims of middlemen when they want to sell their agriculture products. "A section of middlemen in association with the local influential become very active to exploit farmers specially in the harvesting of various crops. As a result, the farmers don't get fair price and they become more frustrated as their production cost is higher than the selling rate. If the government does not take the issue seriously, it would not be possible to save the farmers and produce more food grains. This is the real picture in the rural area," they narrated.
Former Adviser to the present caretaker government Dhiraj Kumar Nath said if production of food grain is not doubled by 2030, more than one crore people will stand below the poverty line. "Taking government's subsidy, we would not be able to sustain in the long run. There is no alternative to increasing production in the agriculture sector and that's why government will have to give special care to agriculture sector."
This was disclosed at a round table discussion on 'Media Role in Developing Agriculture in Bangladesh' held at Agriculture Laboratory Building at Farm Gate in city on Saturday. Some 64 agriculture extension officers from 64 districts placed various problems in improving agricultural production.
They said government's commitments and measures for developing the agriculture sector in order to produce more food grains and other produces, would not be implemented due to mismanagement, irregularities and lack of supervision by the assigned authorities. "The seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other equipments sanctioned for the rural farmers, are not reaching them properly.
Farmers have to face difficulties in getting seeds, fertilisers and pesticides as the members and chairmen deal with the total system.
As a result, taking advantage of the system the chairmen
On the other hand, the farmers are also becoming victims of middlemen when they want to sell their agriculture products. "A section of middlemen in association with the local influential become very active to exploit farmers specially in the harvesting of various crops. As a result, the farmers don't get fair price and they become more frustrated as their production cost is higher than the selling rate. If the government does not take the issue seriously, it would not be possible to save the farmers and produce more food grains. This is the real picture in the rural area," they narrated.
Former Adviser to the present caretaker government Dhiraj Kumar Nath said if production of food grain is not doubled by 2030, more than one crore people will stand below the poverty line. "Taking government's subsidy, we would not be able to sustain in the long run. There is no alternative to increasing production in the agriculture sector and that's why government will have to give special care to agriculture sector."
