Agriculture Minister Abdus Shahid said that if the cultivation of new high-yielding varieties of rice can be spread throughout the country, it will be possible to meet our own needs and export rice. He said, ‘Our main food is rice. Currently our population is 17 crores. To meet the food demand of this growing population, we must increase rice production. Therefore, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the cultivation of new varieties of high-yielding rice should be spread across the country.
The Minister said this at the Boro Paddy Harvesting Festival organized by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute at Rustampur village in Hail Howe of Srimangal Upazila of Moulvibazar on Monday (April 22).
The minister said, ‘Boro paddy supplies 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 this year also. As a result, Boro paddy has been planted in 50 lakh hectares of land across the country this year. This time there is a target of 2 crore 22 lakh tons of rice production.
Addressing the farmers, he said, ‘Bri paddy 89, Bri paddy 92, Bangabandhu paddy 100, Bri paddy 102, Binadhan 25 etc. yield is much higher than the old varieties Bri paddy 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. Cultivation of these should be increased.
Earlier, in response to questions from journalists, the minister said, ‘The price of rice has been determined by calculating the production cost of Boro rice, so that the farmers get a fair price. Compared to last year, the price of paddy has been increased by two rupees per kg this year.
The minister said, ‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving agricultural machinery to farmers with 70 percent 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.
Moulvibazar District Commissioner Urmi Binte Salam presided over the event, local MP Mohammad Zillur Rahman, Agriculture Ministry Additional Secretary Shah Md Helal Uddin, Rice Research Institute Director General Shahjahan Kabir, Agriculture Extension Department Director Tajul Islam Patwari, Sylhet Region Additional Director Md Matiuzzaman, Deputy Director Samchuddin. Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Manjur Rahman and others spoke.
After the ceremony, the minister distributed combine harvesters at subsidized prices among the farmers.
Tags: price rice fixed calculating cost production Agriculture Minister
