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Big challenges before agriculture

Minister backs suggestion for land reclamation in coastal belt

By Staff Correspondent
Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury, former ministers M Majid-ul Haq, M Syeduzza-man. AMA Muhit and a host of experts, agriculturists, and rep resentatives from private and NGO sectors also took part.
The agriculture minister strongly supported the keynote presenter's suggestion for land reclamation tn the large coastal belt.
"We've to convince the donors to invest In land reclamation for if we want to survive in the future when we won't be able to grow enough food to feed the large population due to acute land shortage," said Motia.
She however differed with the keynote speaker on the point of providing subsidy to agriculture.
As Hossain argued in favour of channeling resources saved
from subsidy cuts to rural infrastructure development. Motia said the government's farm subsidy is already quite low.
She came down heavily on (he diehard supporters of market economy, saying "If developing economies can provide huge price incentives to the farmers without earning any bad name for market distortion. why should it not be so In case of Bangladesh."
On the issue of further market opening for private seed merchants, the minister said "the market is already wide open for the private sector to do business In seed sector excepting some restrictions in trade of cereal seeds.”
Motia however was equally critical of activities of some of lhe NGOs and private sector organisations. The government has to see the Interests of the
poor farmers as and when they fall prey to substandard seed marketing."
Earlier. Dr. Hossain in his paper emphasised sustaining quality of the soil and water resources with the growing pressure for intensification of farming. He mentioned that cropping intensity has already exceeded 1 75 per cent, one of the highest in the world.
Hossain argued for more public sector Investment in agricultural research. He also touched upon the issues of crop diversification, land reforms and preparation of an agric ul-tural growth strategy containing strong elements to promote fish and livestock production.
Former agriculture minister M Majid-ul liaq expressed concern at the loss of soil fertility and blamed It on excessive use
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Fast depletion of croplands, steep fall in soil fertility, looming crisis of irrigation water and lesser resource for research are the big hurdles facing the country’s agriculture today.
Identifying these challenges, experts and policy planners at a dialogue in the city yesterday called for public and private sectors to act immediately.
The dialogue on Bangladesh Agriculture at the Crossroads: Current Challenges was organised at a citv hotel by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). an independent thinktank.
Dr. Mahabub Hossain. Head of the Social Science Division of the International Rice Research Institute URRI). made a keynote presentation at the dialogue presided over by CPD Chairman Prof. Rehman Sobhan.