Minister of Agriculture Dr. Md. Abdus Shaheed said that the price of Boro rice has been determined by calculating the production cost, so that the farmers get a fair price. Compared to last year, this year has been increased by two rupees per kg.
He said this at the Boro Rice Cutting Festival organized by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute at Rustampur village of Srimangal Hail Haor in Moulvibazar on Monday (April 22) afternoon.
Dr. Md. Abdus Shahid said, Boro rice provides more than half of our total rice production throughout the year. That is why we have provided incentives of more than 215 crore rupees to the farmers to increase the cultivation and yield of Boro rice this year as well. As a result, boro paddy has been planted in 50 lakh hectares of land across the country this year. This year there is a target of 2 crore 22 lakh tons of rice production.
The agriculture minister said that if the cultivation of new high-yielding varieties of rice can be spread throughout the country, it will be possible to export rice to meet our own needs. Our staple food is rice. Currently our population is 17 crores. We must increase rice production to meet the food demand of this growing population. Therefore, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the cultivation of new high-yielding varieties of rice should be spread all over the country without the introduction of new varieties. Then it will be possible to export rice to meet our own needs.
He said, the yield of new varieties like Bri Dhan 89, Bri Dhan 92, Bangabandhu Dhan 100, Bri Dhan 102, Binadhan 25 etc. is much higher than the old varieties Bri Dhan 28 and 29. By cultivating these new varieties of rice, the farmers got an unprecedented yield. The average yield of varieties per bigha has been 25-30 maunds depending on the area. Their cultivation should be increased.
The minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving agricultural machinery to farmers with 70% subsidy. This is a rare example in the world. Right now, about 9 thousand combine harvesters are harvesting paddy in Howar. As a result, it is possible to harvest rice quickly and the wastage of rice during harvest is also reduced.
Maulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Urmi Binte Salam spoke in the chair, Member of Parliament Mohammad Zillur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Shah Md. Helal Uddin, Director General of Rice Research Institute Shahjahan Kabir, Director of Agriculture Extension Department Tajul Islam Patwari, Additional Director of Sylhet Region. Matiuzzaman, Deputy Director Samchuddin Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Manjur Rahman etc.
After the ceremony, the minister distributed combine harvesters at subsidized prices among the farmers. Besides, interesting cultural programs including Dhamail, Jhumur dance are performed.
Tags: price rice determined calculating cost production Agriculture Minister
