MD ASADUZ ZAMAN

Although the government has from time-to-time laid emphasis on the timely completion of projects, the agriculture ministry will seek a third extension for one on fruit production, taking the completion time to 10 years from an initial five years.

In its latest proposal, the ministry has sought an additional Tk 211 crore for the “Year-Round Production of Nutritious and High Value Fruits” project, which will take the total cost to Tk 671 crore.

The authorities have even proposed including some new components, according to planning commission documents.

One of them is to look after a 36-acre mango orchard situated in historic Mujibnagar Amrakanan in Meherpur.

Moreover, three new horticulture centres have been proposed to be set up in Gaibandha, Kustia and Jashore while another in Khagrachhari is set to be expanded.

The proposals are scheduled to be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for approval today.

The Tk 195 crore project was undertaken in July 2015 and supposed to be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) by June 2020.

In the first revision, it was extended by one year while the budget was increased by 53 per cent, taking the overall cost to Tk 299 crore.

It was revised for a second time, with the cost raised to Tk 460 crore and tenure extended by another two years, meaning by June 2023.

As Bangladesh currently meets about 60 per cent of its demand for fruits through imports at an annual cost of around $30 million, the government took the project with an aim to train farmers, increase production and subsequently reduce dependence on imports.