The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The first phase of the national agriculture technology project (NATP) involving Taka 622.09 crore was launched on Monday aiming at boosting production of crops, and fisheries and livestock in 120 upazilas to increase income of farmers by 20 per cent.

The five-year-long NATP phase-1 will raise agricultural productivity and farm income improving the national agriculture technology system and providing support for agricultural research and extension besides developing the supply chain.

Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim inaugurated the launching workshop of the project as the chief guest while Economic Relation Division Secretary Mohammad Aminul Islam Bhuiyan was the special guest at the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Centre (BARC) in the city.

Presided over by Agriculture Secretary M Abdul Aziz, the inaugural session was also addressed, among others, by Country Director of the World Bank Xian Zhu, Executive Chairman of the BARC Dr M Abdur Razzak and Project Director of the NATP M A Akmal Hossain.

"The new chapter of green revolution has started in the context of falling global stocks of foodgrains," the adviser said adding "in the current global situation, in fact, none will cultivate crops for feeding us, we have to produce our own food," he said.

Dr CS Karim said the bumper harvest of Boro paddy due to bravery and patience of farmers, and relentless efforts of agriculture extension workers and researchers has built a confidence that the country could survive any situation.

"We should treat the agriculture as a business opportunity, rather concern for only ensuring food security," he said adding "if we could produce adequate quality of foodgrains, we can export those easily."

Of the total expenditure of Taka 622.09 crore for the first phase of the NATP, the World Bank and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) will jointly give Taka 573.91 crore as loans while the government of Bangladesh will provide Taka 48.18 crore.

The NATP was designed for 15 years and divided into three phases of the five-year segment. Donor agencies will provide further assistance after evaluating the progress of the first phase.

Dr CS Karim said the export of potatoes has a huge business potentiality, as it has global market of Taka 35,000 crore.

He underlined the need for involving the private sector in agriculture research to strengthen it further for ensuring food security side by side with adopting climate change.

The adviser urged agriculturists to carry out research targeting the need of farmers, not only for publication or building carriers.

Xian Zhu said agriculture and rural non-farm economy are the main sources of livelihood of rural people of the country as agriculture and non-farm account for about 22 and 33 percent of GDP respectively.

He said over the last three decades, there has been a significant increase in production of rice in the country to achieve near self-sufficiency in foodgrains.