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'Wheat output can be doubled utilising existing potential'

By Rafiq Hasan
By Rafiq Hasan
Wheat production in the country can be doubled utilising the existing potential and available technology, experts say.
“I think it is very realistic that wheat production in Bangladesh would reach three million metric tons annually within three to five years.” said Prof Timothy G Reeves. Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT).
Production can be increased by at least 20 per cent now and for this the only need is to go for newer high yielding varieties. Another 10 per cent growth would come from timely planting and 'proper treatment of seeds', he added.
Talking to The Dally Star on Saturday. Reeves who was on a three-day visit to Bangladesh, further said production of wheat here could be increased to 'four million tonnes annually within 10 years' if some issues were addressed on a priority
basis.
Timothy Reeves, head of the ‘ Mexico-based CIMMYT. met Minister for Agriculture Motia Chowdhury, high government officials, researchers and agriculture scientists during the visit.
"1 had a fruitful discussion with the government officials and I am impressed observing the progress In wheat production in Bangladesh." Reeves said.
Wheat specialist Dr Craig A Meisner and Dr A B Shakhawat Hossain, director of wheat research centre at BARI, were also present as Reeves talked at the CIMMYT local office at Uttara.
Dr Shakhawat said wheat production has almost doubled during the last two decades and stood at around two million tonnes in 1999.
He also said cultivation of wheat has some advantages over that of rice .It is cost effective,
more echo-friendly and needs less Irrigation. Wheat is more nutritious, he added.
Dr Meisner said per hectare wheat production in Bangladesh is higher than that in Pakistan and Nepal.
In this regard. Bangladesh is next to China and India. The national average of wheat production here is 2 2 tonnes per hectare, he pointed out.
"■Traditionally Pakistan had a big Investment in wheat production whereas it Is a new phenomenon in Bangladesh". Meisner said.
Responding to a question the CIMMYT chief said the government should increase the investment in agriculture sector significantly, particularly in research.
The government’s procurement policies are good but availability of fertilisers, machines and credit should be ensured for the fanners, he said .
Agriculture research should be directed towards the need of the farmers, not academic purposes. The decision makers should keep In mind that food does not come from the super markets, but it comes from the fanners. Reeves noted.
Investment In agriculture research can also come from international financial organisations like World Bank. US-' AID and DFID, he added.
CIMMYT played a vital role in popularising wheat cultivation in the country. Through its local office and in cooperation with Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), it provided various types of research and technological support and training facilities for Improvement of wheat production in the country.
Reeves also emphasised the need for increasing the production of Maize in the country. To increase food production in the country, maize is another area which can get importance, he said.
About 70.000 tonnes of maize are produced annually In Bangaldesh.
Maize also could be cultivated on commercial basis for poultry and livestock food. CIMMYT innovated some maize seeds with better protein quality. Reeves said.