Japan commits to help boosting Bangladesh agriculture: Razzak
The agriculture minister Dr Md Abdur Razzak, MP has underscored the need for further development of the agriculture sector with a view to boosting country’s economy.
Talking to Daily Industry on Thursday, the agriculture minister told that more contribution of the agriculture sector is a must to attain a sustainable and vibrant economy and the ministry is sincerely working to get more output from this sector.
Considering the necessity of maintaining higher food grain production to promote the development agenda of the incumbent government, Japan will provide all logistic supports for further advancement of agriculture sector of the country, disclosed the minister.
In this regard, the minister took part a meeting with Japan Ambassador in Bangladesh, Hiroyasu Izumi along with a good number of representatives of the international development partner Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at his secretariat office in the city recently.
Anri Uno, third secretary, Yasuhiro Kawazoe, senior representative, Ryuichi Katsuri, Programme Advisor, Md Mahedi Hasan, deputy programme officer of JICA presented on the occasion.
Razzak said Japan will work to develop supply chain management of agro products to facilitate the farmers across the country. Apart from this, Japan will provide technical support for developing food processing activities to ensure food security of the country, added the minister.
Moreover, the representatives of Japan have shown their keen interest to assist Bangladesh to develop the infrastructure of the country, also said the minister.
“After independence of Bangladesh, Japan is continuously providing their assistance for development of infrastructure. This time Japan will work to develop agriculture sector of the country. Japan is an old friend of Bangladesh and their contribution is remarkable among the development partners. Japan is investing in Bangladesh to implement various mega projects. A friendly atmosphere is prevailing between the two countries and both countries in local and international arena”, said Abdur Razzak.
Appreciating the role of Japan in promoting economy of Bangladesh, the minister said the assistance of Japan would facilitate the farmers and the agriculture sector.
The representatives assured the minister that Japan will provide their sincere effort to develop the VAT system of agro products, irrigation, and solar irrigation and to pay their attention to create skilled manpower in agriculture sector, added agriculture minister.
Talking on poultry industry, the minister said, the sector has already overcome their crisis but the stakeholders are not getting adequate price. “Although the poultry industry revamp in local market but access to global market is becoming tougher for the sector”, said the minister.
“Our corn production is positive but we are importing corn for poultry industry. The producers of milk, vegetable and fruit are not getting fair price mainly for absence of modern supply chain management and food processing system”, the minister said.
The agriculture ministry is working on the issue so that the related people of poultry industry could operate their business in international market as the government is committed to adopt successful promotion of the new agri- technology, high-yielding seeds and agricultural inventions for attaining the cherished goal of food security of Bangladesh, said the minister.
Source: http://www.dailyindustry.news