Faridpur, Aug 29 (V7N) – Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid today said there is no shortage of fertilizer in the country and that action will be taken against anyone found involved in creating an artificial crisis or charging excessive prices.
The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a consultation meeting with onion and jute farmers at the Faridpur Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium. Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Mazharul Islam presided over the meeting.
Regarding the fertilizer situation, the minister said 1.5 million tonnes of fertilizer were imported, which is more than the country's total requirement, with an equivalent quantity remaining in stock. "So, there is no scope of fertilizer shortage in the country. But some miscreants and conspirators are deliberately trying to keep fertilizer prices high," he said.
Even some retailers are allegedly claiming that fertilizer is unavailable in the market and demanding excessive prices from farmers, said the minister, adding that strict action would be taken against those involved in such irregularities.
Emphasizing the need to reduce dependence on imports of agricultural products, he said the government is working to ensure that jute and onion seeds do not have to be imported from abroad in the future. "One of the government's key objectives in agriculture is to reduce imports of essential agricultural products and meet domestic demand through local production," he said.
He added that the government's goal is to ensure that, in the future, the country does not need to import any agricultural product; rather, it should be able to export agricultural products. "We are trying to produce these products ourselves. For this, everyone concerned will have to work hard and make sustained efforts," he said.
Rashid also said the government is working to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of essential agricultural commodities, including green chilli, ginger and garlic.
At the meeting, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the BNP government is farmer-friendly. Whenever the party has come to power, it has worked for the socioeconomic advancement of the farmers, she said.
Faridpur-3 constituency MP Chowdhury Nayab Yusuf, Faridpur-4 constituency MP Md. Shahidul Islam Babul, Faridpur-1 constituency MP Professor Dr. Md. Elias Molla, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Md. Abdur Rahim, District Council Administrator Md. Afzal Hossain Khan Palash, and concerned officials attended the meeting.
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