Seed imports to remain off limits: Agriculture Minister
Minister of Agriculture Abdus Shaheed said that the import of any kind of seeds of improved varieties to increase the production in the agricultural sector will be out of the restriction.
He said these things to reporters after a courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranoy Verma appointed to Dhaka at the Agriculture Minister's office at the Secretariat on Monday (February 5).
The Agriculture Minister said that India and Bangladesh have a historical friendly relationship. During our liberation war, they sheltered one crore people. Bangladesh had bilateral agreements with India after independence. Today we discussed with the High Commissioner that seeds are needed to grow improved varieties of crops. That will be border free seeds. He said that there will be no problem in food supply if there is free import of seeds in the country.
When asked what he meant by border-free seeds, the Minister said, if there is any restriction on the import of seeds, then it should be understood that there are obstacles. Henceforth, import of any kind of seeds to increase production in the agricultural sector will be out of restriction.
However, in response to a question whether the import of seeds will be duty free, he said that it is a matter for the Finance Ministry and the National Board of Revenue (NBR). We will do what is within our ministry. India's High Commissioner said that all kinds of cooperation will be provided in this regard. For example; they are interested in any kind of cooperation including research, training. There are 7,000 agronomists in India. Our country is small, scientists are less, but we are trying to increase scientists.
Abdus Shahid said that there is less cold storage in the country at the government level. This is not a new thing. However, at the private level, there are one or two cold storages at each police station level. Apart from this, we will officially have one cold storage in each district. If it is within the budget, we will do it.
Besides, the country's fertilizer management is good, said the Agriculture Minister. He said, no farmer should be shot dead for fertilizer. We are delivering fertilizer at the doorstep of farmers. Fertilizer dealers are being monitored. Everyone at the Union level including the Ministry of Agriculture is investigating.
In response to the question why the government is subsidizing fertilizer, but the price of every product is increasing at the consumer level, Abdus Shahid said, there is no question of price increase from our side. If there is a middleman or a syndicate to break it, we have already taken the necessary steps and instructions have been reached. And we don't have any information that fertilizers are being sold at high prices. We are not receiving any such information.