Onion production increased by 27%: Razzaque
The production of onion has increased by 7 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 fiscal year, about 27 per cent up from the previous year.
Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said this today while addressing media on the preparation of the D-8 ministerial meeting on agriculture and food security scheduled to be begun tomorrow.
Razzaque said following the directives of the prime minister, the agriculture ministry has been able to increase the production of onion to 7 lakh tonnes in a year to achieve self-sufficiency.
"This year 33 lakh tonnes of onion have been produced. Bangladesh is now ranked 3rd in the world after leaving behind the United States," the minister said.
Besides, as per the estimation of the Department of Agricultural Extension, a total of 33.62 lakh tonnes of onion was produced in the country in the 2020-21 fiscal year.
However, according to data presented at a workshop of the commerce ministry in October last year, the yearly demand for onion in the country is about 25 lakh tonnes.
About 29.55 lakh tonnes of onion was produced locally while another six to seven lakh tonnes was imported, as per the data.
Since onion is perishable, some 25 per cent of the production gets damaged, it said.
Addressing the briefing, Razzaque said Bangladesh has achieved unimaginable success in agriculture and food security.
He said leaving all fears behind, even amid the extremely adverse conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bangladesh has continued its food production trend.
As per the estimation of the agriculture ministry, 2.8 crore tonnes of Boro paddy has been produced in the 2020-21 fiscal year, which is the highest in the history of the country, he said.
Compared to last year, the production of all crops has increased this year, he said. For example, the total production of rice has been 3.86 crore tonnes, wheat 12 lakh tonnes, maize about 57 lakh tonnes, potato 1.6 crore tonnes, vegetables 1.96 crore tonnes, oilseed 12 lakh tonnes and pulses 9 lakh tonnes, the minister said.
"Even after this success, we need to be aware of food and nutrition security in the post-Covid situation in Bangladesh. We must continue our initiative. With this goal in mind, the 7th D-8 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Food Security is being held," Razzaque said.
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