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BIZ LETTERS
Letters will only be considered if they carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number (if any). The identity of the writers will be protected. Letters must be limited to 300 words. est people are resource-poor farmers, and another 20 are the rural landless who are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. It is unfortunate, but true that we live in such a world where 1 in every 6 people has no access to food and 2.8 billion people live on less than $2 per day.
Combating poverty involves actions to increase food security. and per capita income. Increased income of farmers contributes to poverty alleviation of a large majority of the world's poor. Science and technology are globally recognised as the drivers of increased wealth and continuous improvements in the standard ofliving.
Agri-biotech comprises a wide range of biological disciplines and it offers enormous potential to speed up the development of plant varieties with pro-poor traits, such as drought tolerance, higher yields and increased nutritional value, among others.
In USA, farm income from biotech (BT) crops (HT soybean, Bt potato, Bt maize etc.) is $15.9 billion. Biotech cotton has already made a significant contribution to the income of poor farmers in the first decade (1996-2005), and can be enhanced significantly in the second decade.
India has already adopted biotech crops and their cotton area represents 25 percent of the global area of cotton. It was 2002 when India adopted Bt cotton (a biotech crop) for the first time and became the leading cotton growing country of the world in 2007.
China has also benefited from producing biotech crops, contributing to poverty reduction. Iran and China are the most advanced in the commercialisation of biotech rice, which is the principal food of the poor.
In 2007, the number of countries planting biotech crops increased to 23, comprising of 12 developing countries and 11 industrial.
The most important contribution of biotech crops will be their contribution to the humanitarian MDG (millennium development goals) of reducing poverty and hunger by 50% by 2015.
We cannot end poverty simply by voting for a single politician or feeling bad when we see a picture of starving child. Biotech crops have the potentials to alleviate poverty in the present world. The role of agri-biotechnological innovation in economic change and sustainable development is receiving attention in the national, regional and international levels. A transparent and science based debate is essential for maximizing the potential of crop biotechnology.
Jewel Rana
Mymensingh
Rice, a pricey issue
On the present issues on the Price hike of Rice', I think the business syndicate of the international rice sellers is generating more problems than the business syndicate of our country. We know the exporting countries placed an embargo on the food export; the reasons for which may be varied, like the burdens of population, political reasons, economic compulsion, etc. This came in the face of Bangladesh, suffering most for the high global rice prices.
The food management process of Bangladesh started with predictions, ideas and speeches. To solve the panicked situation, alternate ways should be found on the basis of dependable sources of information.
Recently, from an article, I come to know that the consumers and farmers of Bangladesh store more rice than the businessmen. They store rice because they panic that there will be a shortage of rice. So, if all people want to store more rice, then there will be a crisis. Because of the increase in food prices, a vast number of people try to purchase less and cat less, and thus they remain hungry. I think this is also the case for many higher and middle class families, although they do not make sacrifices for rice or food products, but rather reduce consumption of other service commodities.
Even if we cannot reduce the price of rice, we have to increase the income of the people and balance the economy. The economy should be readjusted. However, this may not be an easy task because the industrialists may not be inspired as there would be pressures on profit. Whatever the solution, everyone will agree that it is high time to do so. So, let us all start.
Mohibul Islam Leemu
Dhaka
Agree to the steel anomaly
My attention has been drawn to the letter written by Mr. Alihussain Akberali, chairman, BSRM Steels Ltd, Chittagong in your Biz Letter column on June 25, 2008, titled, 'Anomalies in the steel industry'.
I feel that Mr. Akberali has rightly pointed out the stepmotherly treatment given by the government to the rod manufacturers using billets over the rods made from scrap. Going by my common sense, as I have limited knowledge on steel or rods, it is implied that the standard and quality of the rods made of billets are definitely superior to that made from scrap. We are in an earthquake-prone zone and so we have to make sure that we use good quality materials to build our homes, bridges, etc. This factor should be seriously taken into consideration by the government.
I hope I have made my point clear as I believe cheapness is not a measure of where quality stands.
MY Hakim
Dhaka.
Advertisement: New growing sector
Advertising is currently the new growing sector of Bangladesh. Nowadays if we watch television or skim through the newspapers, we see lots of advertisements. Advertisements are of good quality and those have effects on the consumer's minds. If we take the example of advertisements of any
multi-national companies or mobile phone operators, we can easily understand the phenomenon.
The field of advertisements got their new direction after the mobile phone companies started operations. Generally advertisements inform the people of products. But nowadays advertisements are not only informative; they also have a good story line, nice screenplay, good directorship and well-groomed models.
Ad agencies are also present in the market to compete with each other. There is a positive competition on the basis of brainwork. An original story line and simple descriptions gets more recognition in the market. It actually increases the productivity of the people and the dedication for the work.
However, according to me, it is not right to copy other people's ideas in this sector. People should be inspirational and should execute their original ideas. Many people are employed in this sector for editing, concepts and lots of other related things. A multinational company's advertisement should use local people, so the general people can relate to the advertisement in real life. SilveaAkther
Dhaka
Are the workers' riot justified?
Sakhina is 22 years old and works in a garment factory in Mirpur. She has been working in the same garment factory for over four years now. At the end of the month she gets only Tk 1, 660, the minimum as ruled by the government in 2006. Her family members consist of her husband, who is a rickshaw puller, three chil dren, all aged between 1-4 years, her husband's mother and one widowed sister-in-law. Her husband earns up to Tk 1, 800 a month. In total, their household earnings reach no more than Tk 3,350 per month.
This is a very common situation for poor families across the country.
With the inflation at unbearable heights of 11 percent, families like Sakhinas are in immediate and real danger of falling into rock-bottom poverty, as the prices of even basic commodities like rice are rising at lightening pace everywhere.
The common assumption as to the cause of the recent riots involving the RMG sector workers is that the companies are holding back salaries and hence provoking anger among the workers. I personally believe that other factors are also at play here.
Firstly, an absence of proper employment laws fails to ensure that the workers receive their due payment on time. Secondly, foreign consumers are unaware of the harsh living standards of these poor people in the RMG sector. By increasing awareness abroad, the consumers will be more willing to pay a fair price for their goods. Lastly, increased competition from other nations means that Bangladesh can only win contracts via cut-throat competition. This reduces profit margins for the business owners and therefore, reduces salaries for the workers.
We must come to a solid solution to these problems because the RMG sector is a vital sector in boosting the economic growth of this country.
Minhaj Ahmed
Dhaka