RSS Feed (xml)
for fiscal 2009-10 to achieve food autarky in times of crisis. The
target is 8.19 percent higher than the amount of rice produced last
fiscal, when the output stood at 3.05 crore tonnes, officials said
yesterday. To realise the goal, the agriculture ministry has taken
steps to bring fallow lands under cultivation by introducing small
irrigation projects, ensuring boro rice cultivation in the south and
developing various rice seed varieties that are capable of resisting
salinity, drought and flood. Other steps include crop zoning, surface
water irrigation and reclamation of cultivable land in water-logged
areas, Agriculture Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed told a press
conference. "Our food production usually remains close to mere
self-sufficient levels. But attaining autarky becomes difficult in
case of losses due to natural disasters like cyclones and floods,"
said Ahmed. "For food, a poor country like ours is more vulnerable
than rich countries. That is why we have taken steps to ensure
production of crops," he said. The agriculture ministry organised the
press meet to share the government's initiatives to observe the
World Food Day today that calls for 'achieving food security in times
of crisis'. The government has taken up various programmes such as
rallies, fairs, meetings and seminars to create awareness among
farmers to continue efforts to produce more, so that the country can
meet demand during the days of crisis. "In times of crisis, we may
not be able to buy food despite having the funds to do so. That is
why we arranged programmes to prompt farmers to continue increasing
food production," Mustaq said. At the end of 2007 and early 2008 ,
when Bangladesh was ravaged by recurrent floods and the cyclone Sidr,
the country encountered deficits in staple food output. Procuring
food from international market also became difficult as leading rice
producing countries imposed restrictions on exports in the wake of a
global production shortfall. Bangladesh, with a population of about 15
crore, however emerged from the problem because of good output in
the two biggest crops -- boro and aman latter in 2008. Production of
boro in the last harvest season of 2009 stood at 1.85 crore tonnes,
2.77 percent higher than the target. "We are also expecting
favourable aman output this season," said the agriculture secretary.
He, however, said Bangladesh needs to continue efforts to raise
production and agricultural growth to meet the increasing needs in
the backdrop of declining land and rising population. Mustaq said the
government emphasises vertical expansion of agriculture and
development of stress- tolerant rice seed varieties to resist the
effects of changing climate.
