Monga will never return to Bangladesh thanks to various steps taken by the current regime, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque stated Friday. "If we can distribute early-ripening varieties of Aman paddy which were invented by our scientists in our northern region, monga will not come back in future,” noted the minister. Abdur Razzaque came up with this remark while virtually addressing a function organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) in Taragonj of Rangpur to mark the harvesting of specimens of BINA-16 and BINA-17 varieties of paddy. Also read: Food security: 'Money won't be enough if Bangladesh's not self-sufficient Monga refers to seasonal bouts of poverty and hunger caused by a confluence of natural and social factors unique to Bangladesh. Once an annual or even biannual occurrence affecting mainly northern districts, it has been a number of years since the last recognised monga. Regarding the new varieties of paddy, the minister also said, ”They have immense potential. On one hand the production is good, on the other hand they ripen in 100 days." Also read: Transforming agriculture: Bangladesh moving towards high value crops “We can also produce other crops including potato and mustard after harvesting these new varieties,” he added.

Aiming to give a boost to potato exports, the government has decided to provide all sorts of support for its export and processing as the crop’s annual production surged past one crore metric tonnes in the country. “Over one crore tonnes of potato are produced annually in Bangladesh. But we need to import potato chips and pringles at high prices. Local firms will have to produce quality chips, pringles and French fry processing potato with added values,” said Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Sunday. The minister said this while addressing a views-exchange at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium over the enhancement of potato-processing.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday launched a mobile app called “Sadai” for online sale of agricultural goods saying that the country faces a big challenge in marketing the products despite a success in production. “The production of all agricultural commodities, including rice, wheat, maize, vegetables and fruits has multiplied in the country. An outstanding success has been achieved in the production. But now the biggest challenge is the marketing of these agricultural products,” he said. Read: Online Eid Fair: UNDP-backed online marketplace teams up with Joyeeta Foundation The minister made this remarks at his ministry’s conference room after launching a mobile app titled “Sodai” for online selling agricultural products. The Mobile application is being implemented by the department of agriculture marketing (DAM) with the assistance of the ministry of agriculture. Read: Buy sacrificial animals from online markets: LGRD Minister Dr Razzaque said, “In many cases, farmers cannot market their products and don’t get the proper prices.” Alongside ensuring the fair prices for the farmers, it is also essential to assure the consumers of giving safe and adulteration-free products at the proper prices, he added. He hoped that this mobile app “Sodai” would work to this end reducing the high-handedness of middlemen. Read Top 5 Mobile Apps for Farmers in Bangladesh Agriculture Senior Secretary Mesbahul Islam presided over the function, while DAM Director General Mohammed Yousuf and additional secretary at the ministry Hasanuzzaman Kallol spoke on the occasion.

  The government is distributing 5,776 farming machines among farmers across the country in the current fiscal year under the Agricultural Mechanisation Project of the Agriculture Ministry. The machines include 1,617 combined harvesters, 701 reapers and 184 rice transplanters, according to a handout of the Agriculture Ministry issued on Tuesday. Of the machines, 510 combined harvesters and 701 reapers are being distributed in the Haor area. Under the project, more than 51,000 machines of different technology, including combined harvesters, reapers, rice transplanters, power thresher dryers, power weeders, power sprayers, potato diggers and maize sheller will be distributed among the farmers throughout the country by 2025. Also read: Dhaka for greater intra-OIC trade, contract farming Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday virtually inaugurated the distribution. He said the government is providing the farming machines among the farmers at 70 percent subsidised rate in Haor and coastal areas, while 50 percent subsidised prices in other areas of the country under the Agricultural Mechanisation Project involving Tk 3,020 crore. Noting that the incumbent government has been working for agricultural mechanisation for the last 12 years, he said the agriculture sector of Bangladesh would be as advanced and modern as that of the industrialised countries. “With this project, a new chapter started in the country’s agriculture. There’ll be a revolution in agricultural mechanisation. The agriculture of Bangladesh will be as advanced and modern as that of the industrialised countries,” said Dr Razzaque. Also read: Bangladesh eyes big opportunities abroad through contract farming He said the present government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is giving utmost importance to agriculture. “At present, the main goal of the government is to modernise and make agriculture profitable,” he said adding that the government has taken and implemented various initiatives to modernise and make agriculture profitable through mechanisation. The Minister expressed hope that this project will make agriculture profitable and accelerate the improvement of the living standards of the rural people. State Minister for Social Welfare Md Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru also spoke on the occasion, joining the virtual function from Netrakona. Also read: Alt. Farming: How women in Kurigram augment their households' incomes Senior Secretary of Agriculture Ministry Md Mesbahul Islam and other high officials from the ministry and the Department of Agricultural Extension joined the event.   DAE Director General Md Ashadullah said some Tk 5,271 crore will be saved, if the boro paddy of 48 lakh hectares of land can be harvested using machines.  

Bangladesh will become a developing country within 2024 despite the challenges unfolded by the Covid-19 crisis.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Saturday urged everyone to remain alert against the rise of communal evil forces whose goal is to spoil the country’s secular history and tradition.   Recently some vested groups are using religion for personal interest, he said adding that once Pakistan had oppressed the country for 23 years using religion.   The minister made the call after inaugurating a temple virtually at Sadar Upazila of Netrokona in the afternoon.   Pakistan, created based on religion, split into pieces, the Minister said, adding that some people who are against the Liberation War, believe in communalism and still carry the shadow of Pakistan, are carrying out evil acts.   “They torture and harass people of minority whenever they get a chance. They must come out from such a mentality”, Razzaque said.       Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has established a non-communal spirit in every sector of the country but some extremists and fundamentalists are conspiring against the government, he said.   They are trying to destabilise the country in many regions, the minister added. “We must remain alert to ensure that this evil power won’t rise.”   Also read: None goes to bed hungry in Bangladesh: Agriculture Minister

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday asked all the officials of the ministry to be prepared for the second wave of Coronavirus outbreak that likely to hit the country in the upcoming winter.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday said that this year flood has damaged crops on over 1.58 lakh hectares of lands, causing losses worth Tk 1,323 crore.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Saturday said that the curriculum of all the agricultural universities needs to be up to the minute, modern and practical, in order to meet challenges in the agricultural sector.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday asked the officials concerned to monitor the field activities and supervise it closely after visiting the flood-hit areas as soon as possible to recoup farmers’ losses.