The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed emphasised in a recent function that all out efforts would be made in the on going Boro rice cropping season to make up for the losses of rice crops in recent months due to floods and the Sidr storm. It has also been noted that the armed forces are engaging in a supportive role for agriculture. The tasks are essentially for the civil administration to complete efficiently for getting the benefits of higher agricultural productivity leading to removal of fears about the country's food security. The Army Chief made a projection about increasing food grains production which is very relevant under the present circumstances. But how far the different ministries will discharge their responsibilities to attain the projected target.

Higher productivity in the coming Boro rice cropping season is also the expectation of all concerned in the country. But the realisation of this goal would depend crucially on the reaching of agriculture's key inputs to farmers. The most important of these inputs is fertiliser. Advisers heading ministries such as agriculture and industry, time and again were very critical of the press for giving coverage to fertiliser distribution which, in their view, were exaggerated accounts. They termed the fertiliser crisis covered in the media as sheer hypes. But the realities are far otherwise. Recently, the government was found scrambling to import at least two lakh tons of fertilisers in the country. But why this late start? It was stated earlier that there existed no shortage of fertiliser stocks in the country. If this is the actuality, then why this eleventh hour move to import fertilisers? Meanwhile, government appointed fertiliser dealers maintain that they are not even getting half the monthly supply of fertilisers against their entitlements from government stocks. The only consequences of such a state of things can be no other than prolonging the food insecure conditions of the country.

Prices of foodgrains are already high. The poor and the non-affluent in the population are suffering from high food prices. The present situation dictates the taking of all out measures to give a big boost to food grains production as the best way to avoid a worsening food situation. Increased food grain production apart from satisfying food requirements at affordable prices, will ease the pressure on the country's foreign currency reserve from the need to import costlier food. Reduction of food grains imports will significantly help the macro economy of the country. Food shortages, higher prices and related problems only sharpen socio-political discontent. Thus, urgent increase of food production is seen to be in the highest interest of the country. Awareness should be there at the highest level of the government where it matters, about this.