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Minister assures rice farmers of price support

Talks tough on fertiliser crisis

Star Business Report
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday assured the farmers of government support in price to offset any loss they face because of the drop in food grains prices.
"We plan to provide price support this time as we had given during our past regime,” she told a dialogue on 'Boro production: Immediate tasks for the newly elected government', organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the Cirdap auditorium in Dhaka.
Matia said: "We had procured rice atTk 12-13 a kgandsolditatTk lOduring 1996-2001."
The assurance came in response to an anticipation that growers might not get their production costs due to sharp decline in the prices of paddy and rice.
Moderated by CPD Chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan, the dialogue was also addressed by former agriculture adviser Dr CS Karim.
Dr Uttam Deb, head of research of CPD, § presented a keynote paper on "higher boro « production for food security: An integrated strategy”.
Economists, agronomists and experts made their comments on the issue. I\vo farmers also spoke.
The keynote paper suggested the government declare a minimum price of boro rice to provide adequate incentives for the growers. Minimum support price for paddy may be atTk 13 per kg and Tk 21 for rice, it advised.
Uttam in his paper found that average production cost of boro paddy stands atTk 11.83 a kg and rice Tk 18.84.
Mahbub Hossain, executive director of BRAC, said if supply outpaces demand, the price would fall resulting in the ultimate suffering of farmers.
The minister said the Awami League made
election pledges before the farmers to address their issues.
"We have already slashed diesel and fertiliser prices as per our promises,” she said. “We may provide similar support for boro cultivators,” she added, warning against any bid to destabilise the situation.
"If any quarter tries to gang-up to create any untoward situation, the government will intervene and do everything to make the situation alright,” she said.
The minister also rejected the idea that fertiliser might be smuggled out to India after reduction in the price saying that still the price is a bit higher here than that in the neighbouring country.
Matia Chowdhury also welcomed the private
sector to seed production to meet the growing demand.
She also asked the government machineries to bargain with donors strongly and wisely.
“They (donors) are not right in everything. They also make mistakes,” she pointed out.
CS Karim urged people to be calculative in making any demand. "Let her (Matia) give time,” he suggested.
Economist Dr Atiur Rahman and Country Representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation Ad Spijkers also took part in the discussion.
Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman and CPD Executive Director Prof Mustafizur Rahman were present.