Tarique Rahman Pushes Agricultural Processing Zone to Boost Northern Farmers
The late President Ziaur Rahman made significant contributions to the development and modernisation of Bangladesh’s agriculture sector. Several landmark initiatives taken during his tenure helped bring about the country’s “Green Revolution.” In 1979, he launched a major canal excavation and re-excavation programme to expand irrigation facilities and reduce waterlogging. More than 1,500 canals, covering around 26,000 kilometres, were excavated or re-excavated to ensure water supply to agricultural fields. As a result, many single-crop lands gradually became suitable for growing two or three crops a year. The use of high-yielding variety seeds also increased rapidly. He also introduced agricultural loans and financial assistance for farmers.
In 1977, a landmark decision was taken to distribute Tk 100 crore in special agricultural loans without collateral to support farmers. In 1978, a “Crop Warehouse Loan Programme” was introduced to ensure fair prices for farmers and prevent them from being forced to sell their crops at low prices. The government led by Ziaur Rahman also introduced reforms to address food shortages. It emphasised irrigation projects and canal excavation in villages to tackle drought and floods. The “Food for Work Programme” was introduced to encourage villagers to excavate canals themselves.
In 1978, the government changed the system for appointing fertiliser dealers and handed responsibility for fertiliser distribution entirely to the private sector. Between 1979 and 1983, the role of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation was limited to supplying fertiliser to local traders and distributing it at the wholesale level. These measures contributed to a significant increase in agricultural production. Ziaur Rahman’s agricultural reforms became known internationally as part of Bangladesh’s Green Revolution. His initiatives were later followed by measures under former prime minister Khaleda Zia to improve agriculture and farmers’ livelihoods.
The article says that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is continuing these efforts. He has directed the government to develop agricultural entrepreneurs and take initiatives to establish an agricultural product processing zone in the northern region and increase agricultural exports. He has also instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to adopt a time-bound action plan to achieve self-sufficiency in strategic jute seed production within three years and reduce dependence on imported jute seeds. The ministry has already started implementing six of the directives within one month.
The government is also working to provide farmers with agricultural cards, agricultural machinery and modern technology. A database of farmers has been prepared as part of the farmer card and agricultural mechanisation programmes, and agricultural cards have already been distributed. Through the agricultural card, farmers are expected to receive agricultural inputs at fair prices, irrigation facilities, easy-term loans, subsidies and incentives, weather and market information, agricultural training and crop insurance.
The prime minister has also instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure adequate fertiliser stocks and continue subsidies to reduce farmers’ production costs. Around Tk 5.12 crore has so far been provided as agricultural incentives through various financial institutions. Measures have also been initiated to increase production capacity by modernising old fertiliser factories.
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid told Inqilab, “The development of agriculture will improve the lives of the people of this country and keep the wheels of the economy moving. That is why our Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held his first meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture. We have started implementing the Prime Minister’s directives quickly.” At a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture on September 13, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he said the government wants to meet 100 percent of domestic demand by increasing agricultural production.
He stressed the need for urgent plans to increase domestic production of products and seeds that Bangladesh currently imports, including onions, pulses and edible oil. The meeting discussed the progress of three government priority programmes—farmer cards, canal excavation and tree plantation. It also reviewed plans to maintain surplus onion production, reduce dependence on imported products such as jute seeds, edible oil, ginger, tomatoes and chillies, and develop projects to increase domestic production.
The meeting also discussed processing surplus winter tomatoes and chillies into pickles and other processed agricultural products. As potato production remains in surplus throughout the year, initiatives are being taken to export potatoes to countries including Sri Lanka. A technical committee will also be formed to review the current pesticide sector and prepare policy guidelines and recommendations to ensure safe agricultural production and protect public health.
Prime Minister’s directives
The prime minister has directed the Ministry of Agriculture to take initiatives and adopt a time-bound action plan to achieve self-sufficiency in strategic jute seed production within three years and reduce dependence on imported jute seeds. The Ministries of Agriculture and Industries will jointly review measures to expand jute and maize seed production on unused and fallow land belonging to closed sugar mills.
To address the challenges of climate change and develop sustainable, environment-friendly agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture will assess the potential for earning carbon credits from the agricultural sector and take steps to introduce carbon trading in international markets. Electric and diesel-powered irrigation pumps are to be gradually converted to solar pumps. The government also plans to construct modern fertiliser warehouses near railway and river ports, including Baghabari and Santahar, to ensure adequate fertiliser storage and maintain a farmer-friendly, uninterrupted and effective supply chain.
As fertiliser is currently imported separately through the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation and several private companies, the prime minister has directed the relevant ministries and stakeholders to discuss bringing the import, storage and distribution of all types of urea fertiliser under the Ministry of Agriculture. The annual demand and supply of fertiliser will be reviewed to maintain a proper balance, considering the growing use of fertiliser in expanded tea gardens in the northern region and in the poultry, dairy, fisheries and fruit and vegetable sectors.
To attract young scientists to agricultural research and encourage them to continue working at research institutions, the government will review the facilities available to cadre officials and university teachers and submit a report to the Prime Minister’s Office. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the Department of Agricultural Extension have been instructed to take necessary steps to expand BRRI dhan-118 to reduce crop losses caused by early floods in haor areas.
A total of 30 metric tonnes of BRRI dhan-18 seed will also be distributed free of cost among farmers in haor areas. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute has already started the process. The government has further directed the relevant authorities to increase domestic production of pulses, oilseeds and other import-dependent crops to reduce existing shortages and achieve self-sufficiency.
Necessary measures will be taken to introduce refinery systems for extracting high-quality and nutrient-rich oil, particularly from sunflower seeds. Sunflower cultivation will also be expanded in coastal and char areas to meet domestic demand. At the same time, the government has instructed that the production of major crops should not be disrupted when introducing or expanding new crops.
The Cotton Development Board has been asked to review the country’s potential for cotton production and the various measures already taken to expand cultivation and submit a detailed plan. The Ministry of Agriculture will use funds saved through the rescoping and restructuring of ongoing development projects under the Cotton Development Board to implement priority programmes in the agricultural sector.
Steps will also be taken to establish modern packing houses and cold storage facilities outside Dhaka and near airports to facilitate agricultural exports. The Ministries of Food; Fisheries and Livestock; Health and Family Welfare; Commerce; and Agriculture will jointly determine their responsibilities to ensure food safety. The Ministry of Agriculture has been instructed to increase production within two years of agricultural products that are in demand throughout the year, including ginger, green chillies, tomatoes and carrots, to reduce existing shortages.
Agriculture Secretary Md Selim Khan told Inqilab, “The late President Ziaur Rahman made an immense contribution to the development and modernisation of Bangladesh’s agriculture sector. The landmark measures taken during his tenure brought about the ‘Green Revolution’ in the country. Following his legacy, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working for the country’s farmers by introducing farmer cards, agricultural mechanisation and modern technology.”
He said a database of farmers had already been prepared for the farmer card and agricultural mechanisation programmes. Of the 12 directives issued on fertiliser, seeds, oil and the use of unused and fallow land of closed sugar mills for jute and maize seed production, six projects have already been taken up for rapid implementation.
