The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman Wednesday stressed increased investment in the agriculture sector.

"We've been neglecting the agriculture since the 80s although it's the backbone of our economy. Investment in this sector has significantly decreased over years. Such negligence must be stopped right now," he said.

He was addressing a roundtable conference on "Food safety and Modernisation of Farm Management" at the BRAC Center yesterday in the capital, jointly organised by BRACK and Weekly 2000.

The roundtable was moderated by BRACK executive director Dr Mahbub Hossain, where Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim shared his views.

After long discussion, the roundtable came up with a unanimous opinion that Bangladesh, as a country, would never be able to get rid of "food crisis" if it continues to neglect the agriculture sector in the name of industrialisation.

"We have to make the farmer and farming sector the focal point of national policy," said Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur.

He recommended short- and long-term projects for food safety and said: "We have started discussion on how we can stock Boro paddy. We have also increased the quantity of rice to be sold in the open market to one lakh ton."

"We must understand that nobody is going to help us tackle the food crisis. We will have to find out a solution to our own problem. And return to the agro-based economy is the only way-out," Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim told the roundtable.

Former Agriculture Ministers Matia Chowdhury and MK Anwar were also present at the round table.

Dr CS Karim laid emphasis on public-private partnership for the modernisation of agriculture in Bangladesh.

He, however, appreciated the past governments for development of infrastructures in the agriculture sectors, but voiced concern over the rapid shrinking of croplands in the country and called for measures to check it.

He said from now on the country's universities, government and non-government institutions must increase research works aiming to give a further boost to farm output.

Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the agriculture has to be retaken in the focal point of the country's economy.

Former Agriculture Minister MK Anwar said the present food crisis is nothing but the consequence of a severe negligence of the agriculture sector.