Gazipur, Oct 15 (V7N)- President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for incentives for farmers, saying declining profitability in agriculture is prompting many people to leave the profession.
He made the remarks at a views-exchange meeting following a visit to the Agricultural Research Institute in Gazipur on Thursday afternoon.
The President said farmers often fail to receive fair prices for their produce while having to purchase seeds at high prices, leaving many unable to cover their production costs.
He stressed that agricultural challenges must be addressed through research and called for improved facilities and benefits for agricultural scientists. He also urged the government to introduce pension arrangements for agricultural researchers, even if legal amendments were required.
Highlighting the need to reduce post-harvest losses, Mirza Fakhrul Islam said cold-storage facilities were essential for preserving fruits and vegetables over extended periods. He called on the private sector to invest in developing such infrastructure.
The President also criticised the state of public institutions under what he described as a prolonged period of authoritarian rule, alleging that arbitrariness and corruption had spread across institutions.
He said the country now had an opportunity to overcome those problems and urged everyone to remain patient and move forward gradually to achieve progress.
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