Farmers may get diesel at subsidised rate
The government would consider giving diesel to farmers at subsidised prices,Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said yesterday.
He said, "If fuel prices do not fall because of the Russia-Ukraine war, we will have to do something with diesel, similar to subsidies on fertiliser, to reduce production costs of farmers."
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a workshop on "Sustaining Groundwater Irrigation for Food Security in the Northwest Region of Bangladesh" held at the Brac Centre Inn in the capital.
Institute of Water Modelling, in collaboration with Bangladesh Agricultural University and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation of Australia (CSIRO) organised the event, which was financed by the Australian government.
The minister said, "The price of diesel is very high. If there is no rain, costs of Boro production will go up a lot. The government is seriously considering it.
"Earlier, we used to give subsidies of Tk 8,000-10,000 crore on fertiliser. Last year, the government gave a subsidy of Tk 28,000 crore."
The diesel price is now Tk 109, which was Tk 80 till August 5.
The increased price would have a significant effect on production cost of Boro paddy as farmers mostly depend on diesel-run machines to cultivate, irrigate, and harvest the crop.
About food security, he said the government does not want to be dependent on anyone for food. "We will be self-sufficient in food. There will be no shortage of food in the country. The government has been working to ensure that."
Nardia Simpson, deputy high commissioner of Australia High Commission to Bangladesh, gave a welcome speech at the event. IWM Executive Director Abu Saleh Khan presided over the programme.
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