The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Riding on the comparative advantage and a rising global price trend, resilient Bangladeshi farmers can boost rice production to over 4.0 crore tonnes annually in five years that can fetch at 7.0 crore tonnes in the long run to make the country a leading rice exporter.

Scientists of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) made this projection, which was presented by its member director Hasanur Rahman at a workshop held recently in the city. Hasanur told BSS that a national task force is working to develop a full scheme on the growth model to be presented before a national seminar soon. "We have to reduce and rationalise excess cost and application of inputs for making agriculture commercially competitive and BADC is working to chart out the future course of the country's agriculture," Rahman said.

Statistics showed the country's food production remained stagnant around 2.6 crore tonnes in the recent time mainly because of a sluggish Boro and Aman crop due to a frequent crop failure stemming from floods, droughts and devastating cyclones.

The food requirement, on the other hand, is hovering around 3.0 crore tons annually resulting in a deficiency of 40 lakh tons this year triggering acute supply crisis and price escalation.

But, a bumper Boro harvest this season, has changed the scenario, at least beating back the supply crisis although the price

crisis is yet to be over. Scientists, warned of not to mix both the phenomenon under one bracket. Supply is a productivity phenomenon while price is a market phenomenon, they said stressing on the need for reforming the agricultural market mechanism to make dents on the escalating food prices.

The BADC sources said, the higher rice productivity may be attained by reducing the application of excess agricultural inputs, such as fertiliser, seeds and water to reduce the production cost on one hand and training the farmers in higher productivity on the other.