Increase profit margin up to 25pc: speakers

Speakers at a seminar yesterday called upon the government to increase the profit margin up to 25 percent while setting the price of rice, and create a framework to ensure direct procurement from farmers.

They also urged the government to take necessary steps to reduce Haor area farmers’ dependence on single crop to minimise financial loss.

The seminar, titled “Fair price of rice: Crisis and proposal in the context of Haor”, was organised jointly by Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) and Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

Poba Chairman Abu Naser Khan said fair price of rice is directly related to food security.

“If the farmers do not get fair price, they would be reluctant to cultivate paddy. This would, in turn, push the country towards a serious food crisis,” he said.

Naser said farmers’ livelihood is correlated to education, health and other sectors.

“When farmers have money, they spend on better education and medical treatment. Thus, more investment flows to rural areas for improvement of infrastructure,” he said.

Quoting a report of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Director of BARCIK Syed Ali Biswas said Bangladesh has earned the top position in rice production.

In 2018, the growth rate was 5.67 per cent and according to forecast the pace of growth will remain stable in future, he further added.

“Though farmers, the government and other organisations have contributed to the success, farmers are deprived of benefits reaped through growth,” said Biswas.

He urged the government to stop neglecting farmers and to build a strong stockpiling system at the union level.

He also recommended that the government introduce crop insurance and monitoring system to stop harassment of farmers when taking loans.

In his proposal, Biswas said the government should initiate coordinated programmes to encourage youths to get involved in agriculture.

Among others, former lawmaker Chhabi Biswas also spoke.