United News of Bangladesh

To ensure fair prices to farmers, the government is considering selling potatoes through Open Market Sale (OMS), said Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday. “Farmers are not getting a fair prices for potatoes this season. We are working to facilitate potato sales through OMS so that farmers receive a fair return. If they do not get fair prices, they may stop cultivating such crops in the future. Efforts must be made for farmers to receive a fair price,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the Secretariat. Referring to onion production, the adviser said farmers had produced a significantly higher quantity this season compared to last year, helping to keep the domestic market stable without imports. “All are indeed the contributions of the farmers,” he said adding “To assist them further, around 8,000 air-flow storage systems have been distributed so that onions can be stored at the household level.” He also announced a plan to set up 100 mini cold storages aimed at preserving vegetables and improving market access. No shortage of fertilizers in the country: Agriculture Adviser “We hope to complete this initiative before the next harvesting season. Eventually, more facilities will be added. This will allow farmers to store their produce and secure better prices, while consumers will also benefit from reasonable pricing,” said the adviser. Emphasising the importance of farmers in maintaining national food security, the adviser said “Farmers are among those who are keeping this country going, though their contributions are not always properly acknowledged.” Talking about the production of crops, the adviser said that although five districts were severely affected by floods after the new government took office, farmers still exceeded expectations in Aman paddy production. “Despite the damage to Aush and Aman crops, farmers produced 15 lakh tonnes more than the initial target.Yet, rice prices have increased by Tk 2–3 per kg. The overall food grain stock is higher this year compared to previous years,” he said.Mentioning about the past irregularities, the adviser acknowledged reports of corruption in the purchase of agricultural machinery during the previous government. “It is not possible for us to investigate this directly. We have requested the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the matter so that those who were responsible can be brought to justice,” he said. He also informed that DAP fertilizer contains 20% urea and the ministry is training farmers to reduce excessive use of urea and overall fertilizer inputs. He also highlighted the launch of a new digital tool. An app called ‘Khamari App’ has been introduced and it can tell what type of fertilizer is needed in a specific location and also recommend which crops are best suited to that area, he said adding “We are working to improve the app’s features.” He also informed that there is currently no shortage of fertilizers and no crisis is expected until November. Regarding fertilizer distribution, he said a new policy is being developed for dealership liscenses. “Those causing problems with liscenses will be excluded. We will issue new liscenses to competent and trustworthy individuals,” he added.

Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday said the government will construct 100 small cold storage facilities across the country to store seasonal vegetables. He said this at a post-budget press conference in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday. He said farmers could use these storage facilities to store tomatoes, carrots, and other seasonal vegetables. This cold storage will help farmers to get a fair price for their products along with reducing the wastage due to a lack of storage in time. No scope for revolutionary budget overnight: Finance Adviser Besides, the government will build 500 special houses within 2025-25 fiscal year to store onions for 5/6 months. These types of facilities will be increased gradually for other crops so that a smart supply chain of agricultural products is built, he said. The Adviser said the agriculture ministry is working to produce summer onion in the country like other vegetables to keep onion supply smooth in the domestic market.