Budget to attach priority to marketing of farm products
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday assured that a good chunk of budgetary allocation in the next budget would go for the development of marketing of agricultural products to ensure fair prices for farmers.
He said since transportation is one of the major components in marketing of agricultural products, a good amount of money will be allocated for the development of transportation so that the farmers can bring their produce to the market at a cheaper cost.
Azizul Islam was speaking at the seminar on 'Agri Budget, Budget for Farmers' at the auditorium of National Economic Council (NEC) of Planning Ministry, organised by Channel i, a television channel.
He said the farmers' cooperatives for marketing their produces could ensure fair prices for them.
“In the next budget, if necessary, I may increase the amount of endowment fund for agro-research. In the current budget, almost all Tk 350 crore, allocated for agro-research, remain unutilised,” he said.
The finance adviser said introduction of tax holiday facility for the poultry industry in the next budget has been under his active consideration, as the sector incurred a huge loss due to recent bird flu, adding that the duty on import of some poultry related items has already been withdrawn.
TV personality Shykh Seraj moderated the seminar, participated by economists, editors of different national dailies and agriculturists, among others.
Agriculture Adviser CS Karim and Special Assistant to Chief Adviser in ministry of fisheries and livestock Manik Lal Samaddar also spoke.
CS Karim said there is no reason to feel self-complacent for the current bumper boro harvest, adding that the country should not only dependent on rice production, but should also produce other crops for a sustainable food security.
“We are trying to provide subsidy to the farmers directly, as the subsidy money sometimes gets misused by different agencies and people,” Karim said, adding that the wholesale prices of agricultural produce should be increased for the interest of the farmers.
Manik Lal Samaddar said he has already recommended for setting up a separate price-monitoring cell for the poultry industries.
“I have scheduled meetings to sit with the banks and poultry sector people on 14 and 15 May to discuss different issues related to poultry sector,” Samaddar said.
Economist Muzaffer Ahmad said introduction of distribution channels for the farmers would work better in gaining fair prices.
“Curriculum of agri educational institutes should be formulated with the aim to contribute more in agricultural sector,” he said.
Earlier at the seminar, Shykh Seraj submitted a set of recommendations to the finance adviser for the development of the agricultural sector and farmers.
He is scheduled to submit the proposal, which identifies five sectors, to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed today.
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