No plan to raise fertiliser price: Razzaque

The government will not increase fertiliser prices at the moment even though their prices have risen four times in the international markets, said Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque yesterday.

He also said the government had no plan to subsidise diesel prices.

"The process of subsidising diesel for irrigation is quite complicated. It is used in pumps or elsewhere in the name of irrigation."

He made the comments at a press briefing at the agriculture ministry on the outcome of his 11-day visit to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom from November 9 to 19.

The minister said the Netherlands would send a mission to Bangladesh in March as part of its efforts to enhance trade relations and cooperation in the agriculture sector.

Besides, the European country will provide technical assistance to set up international standard labs, conserve onion and potato, innovate climate-tolerant crop varieties, and construct greenhouses and glasshouses.

He said the Dutch private sector will also assist in using advanced technologies in agriculture production and extend technical support for making machinery and training and higher education for developing human resources.

To this end, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed with Wageningen University & Research soon, the minister said.

Another MoU will be signed between the Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom and the agriculture ministry of Bangladesh to provide technical assistance to set up international standard laboratories and inter-laboratory testing validation.

In addition, the process of connecting with British superstores such as Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco through the British Bangladesh Chamber is underway.

"We want to make the agriculture sector profitable and commercial. In order to do this, it is necessary to expand the local and international market by increasing the export of agricultural products through setting up of agro-processeing industries," Razzaque said.

"This will ensure fair prices for farmers."