The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim yesterday said that the Government has taken initiative to hand over the cash subsidy for diesel among the real farmers within 20 days.

"The government has decided to complete the distribution of the cash subsidy between 10 to 20 days, Karim said, adding: ""I have directed the Deputy Commissioners through letter to take initiative to paste lists of the real beneficiaries under the diesel subsidy programme at Union Parisad level."

He was addressing as a chief guest a workshop on Diesel Subsidy Programme for the Poor Farmers in Bangladesh, organised by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) at its Conference Room yesterday. Dr Quazi Shahabuddin, chairman of BIDS chaired the workshop, while Zafrul Islam, acting world Bank country director was present as special guest.

"None of the real farmers will be left out from the lists. Everyone will get their subsidy for diesel in time," Agriculture Adviser Karim said.

"If we provided seeds, fertiliser and irrigation in a due time, we would meet our target," he said.

BIDS researcher M Asaduzzaman who is now conducting a survey on "Adequacy and Effectiveness of Fuel Subsidies to the Poor Bangladesh Farmers," said that it is impossible to reach the subsidy for diesel among the marginal and small farmers if the Government fails to update the existing list of the beneficiaries under the diesel subsidy programme.

Zafrul Islam said that the overall objective of the study is to determine the impact of the increase of price of inputs on farmers and of the intended diesel subsidies.

"We are hoping that this study will review policy on possible options for the implementation of subsidy and its impact. And we hope, such policy options, will help in the design of future support programme for poor and marginal farmers," he said.

"It is difficult to identify clearly who has been affected by the increase in the price of fuel from last year, and those who might be affected the most by a possible further increase in the price of fuel from last year, and those who might be affected the most by a possible further increase in the price of diesel or other inputs such as electricity or fertiliser. One indication is that the smaller and marginal farmer buying irrigation and power tillage services are likely to be affected adversely," he further said.

"To ease the situation, the Government has already started to provide subsidy to farmers, in the form of cash handout, hoping to have a positive impact on agricultural output and protect, in particular, the marginal and small farmers. We appreciate this effort of the Government," the World Bank country representative said.