Joint programme to raise output of spices, pulses
Star Business Report
In a bid to reduce dependency on imports, Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) have jointly undertaken a two-year programme to increase local production of pulses, oilseeds and spices.BKB has set a target to disburse Tk 200 crore in loan to encourage farmers to produce these essential items. The loan programme has already been initiated which will be spread out in 48 districts. A central monitoring committee has been formed to implement the project and review the progress. The committee led by BKB general manager (operation) and DAE director (field wing) will monitor activities at the divisional, district and upazila level. The scheme will help the farmers increase the production of 15 essential items including gram, lentil, maize, soya bean, mustard oil, onion, garlic, turmeric, tomato, betel leaf, and chilli. "The main objective of the programme is to increase production of these essential items as we are increasingly becoming dependent on imports. The farmers are willing to produce these essential items but it is very difficult for BKB to identify them. Since DAE has close relation with them, we are jointly implementing the programme," said a top BKB official. The farmers can make good profit because of favourable weather this season. "If the farmers can make profit, they can also repay the bank's loans easily," the official added. BKB and DAE have signed a two-year memorandum of understanding to implement the programme that will end on 20 September, 2006. "Production of these essential items is being ignored as there is no specific programme to boost their production. As a result, we are increasingly becoming import dependent and spending more foreign currency every year to import them," the official explained. According to an official statistics, local production of maize is only three lakh ton against the demand of nine lakh ton and the rest is being imported. Because of import dependency, a section of traders often create artificial crisis and push its price up. But it is not difficult to increase local production of maize, said the BKB official. Under the programme, DAE will also extend technical and advisory services to the farmers for good production. If implemented, the programme will set a new example in the agriculture sector, the official opined. The programme excludes Rajshahi division as Rajshahi Krishi Development Bank is engaged in promotion of agriculture there.
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