The agriculture ministry is working to cut back manufacturing prices and enhance the number of crops being cultivated with the intention of doubling agricultural productiveness by 2030, in accordance with Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.
He made this remark whereas talking as chief visitor at a roundtable on “Local weather Adaptation: Alternatives for Bangladesh in Growth of Agro-based Industries”, held on the Sheraton Dhaka in Banani yesterday.
For all latest news, follow The My News’s Google News channel. The occasion was collectively organised by the Worldwide Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh, Normal Chartered and the Meals and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
“The nation’s agriculture is all the time in danger whether or not local weather change is concerned or not as crops are being grown in an adversarial setting,” Razzaque mentioned.
“So, in an effort to maintain meals safety sooner or later, agricultural productiveness should be elevated by lowering manufacturing prices and creating crop varieties appropriate for adversarial environments,” he added.
The minister commented that the nation’s agricultural sector has achieved wonderful success as a result of visionary management of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Citing how Bangladesh was as soon as often called a rustic the place persisting meals shortages have been met by way of imports and international help, he mentioned the nation is now self-sufficient in meals grains and plenty of different crops.
Vegetable manufacturing has elevated exponentially previously 15 years, with the cultivation of corn and onion having risen by eight occasions and 5 occasions respectively whereas rice acreage noticed 30 % development. “This success in agricultural manufacturing is being appreciated worldwide right this moment,” Razzaque mentioned.
“This success was not achieved by way of Aladdin’s magic, it was achieved by way of the magic of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s management. This was potential as a result of Prime Minister’s agri-friendly coverage of giving high precedence to agriculture,” he added.
Whereas chairing the programme, ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman emphasised on the dynamic enlargement of a sustainable agro-processing business to maintain the economic system and its agriculture sector vibrant amid altering local weather situations.
He mentioned Bangladesh is chargeable for solely 0.4 % of worldwide greenhouse gasoline emissions, which is insignificant in comparison with different mega industrial economies. Nonetheless, Bangladesh is excessive on the listing of nations which can be most susceptible to local weather change.
Given the present trajectory, Rahman mentioned the quickly altering local weather situations will set off annual GDP losses within the vary of 1 to 2 %.
Agricultural exports from Bangladesh have been rising by greater than 18 % for the previous 5 years. Apart from, international demand for agricultural merchandise is predicted to develop by 15 % yearly between 2019 and 2028, offering an excellent alternative for native meals processors to broaden their exports and thereby assist diversify the nation’s export basked.
Talking as a particular visitor, Md Shahab Uddin, the minister for setting, forest and local weather change, mentioned agroforestry performs a vital function in local weather adaptation by selling biodiversity, enhancing soil well being and lowering the impacts of pure disasters.
“Integrating agroforestry practices into our agricultural panorama can foster resilience and sustainability whereas addressing local weather change challenges,” he added.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief government officer of Normal Chartered Bangladesh, mentioned that as per the federal government’s Nationwide Adaptation Plan, the funding required on this space is $230 billion.
“This funding can’t be carried out by the federal government and multilaterals alone,” he added. Ruhul Amin Talukder, further secretary to the agriculture ministry, introduced the keynote paper.
AK Azad, vice-president of ICC Bangladesh, Md Khurshid Alam, government director of Bangladesh Financial institution, TS Amjath Babu, agricultural economist of the Worldwide Maize and Wheat Enchancment Centre, and FH Ansarey, managing director of ACI Agrolink Ltd, have been among the many panel discussants.
AFM Asif, chief government officer of Bengal Meat Processing Industries, Md Abdul Kader, lead nationwide agronomist on the FAO, and Bitopi Das Chowdhury, head of company affairs, model and advertising and marketing at Normal Chartered Bangladesh, additionally spoke.
