Seventy percent of the Boro paddy in haor areas have been harvested, the Ministry of Agriculture (Bangladesh) has said. In Sylhet, 55 percent paddy was harvested, in Moulvibazar 70 percent was harvested, in Habiganj 67 percent, in Sunamganj 73 percent, in Kishoreganj 58 percent, in Netrokona 77 percent, and in Brahmanbaria 67 percent of Boro paddy was harvested, according to a press release of the ministry today. Boro paddies were sown on 452,000 hectare of land in haor areas of seven districts this year.And a total of 953,000 hectares of Boro paddy has been cultivated in the highland outside of the haors. The production target is 40 lakh tonnes of rice, said the release. Read More: Record Boro production to be achieved this year: Agriculture Minister Recently, Bangladesh's Agriculture Minster Abdur Razzaque launched the Boro paddy harvest in haor areas of Sunamganj ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. At the time, he said if there was no natural disaster and rice can be brought home on time, there will be record production in Boro this year. He said only in Sunamganj, around 1,000 combined paddy harvesters are working, adding that there will be no problem in harvesting paddy this time. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Boro has been sown on 50 lakh hectares of land across the country this year, while the production target is 21.5 million metric tonnes of rice. Read More: Govt to procure 16.50 lakh tonnes Boro paddy, rice In the last fiscal year 2021-22, Boro rice was sown on 48,14,000 hectares of land, and about 20.2 million tonnes of rice were produced in Bangladesh, the release said.

One of the country's leading think-tanks, the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), is working with a political motive to bring a particular party to power, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said on Monday. “CPD conducts many polls with political motives in mind. They want to bring a particular political party to power and are affiliates of that party,” he said. The AL leader made the remarks while speaking to reporters in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture at the secretariat. He questioned the results of CPD's recent survey, 'Corruption Still the Biggest Barrier to Business in Bangladesh,' saying, "People need to know their survey method. Their survey method and objectivity are highly questionable. They are neither sinless nor unbiased." Also read: Business environment in Bangladesh deteriorated in 2022, says CPD He stated that countries such as the United States, Japan, and India experienced negative growth as a result of the Covid pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, and asked, "How does the CPD perceive Bangladesh's positive growth despite this situation?" Abdur Razzak also stated that corruption exists in countries such as the United States and Germany, as well as in Bangladesh. "Khaleda Zia was imprisoned on corruption charges. Corruption has not yet been completely eradicated," he said.  During the meeting, the minister discussed increasing agricultural exports and the progress of implementing export roadmaps. He said that two roadmaps were implemented in order to increase agricultural goods and potato exports. He also mentioned that the ministry is working to reduce some barriers, such as banking complications and the allocation of export incentives.  

The government is working with a plan to produce 10 lakh tonnes of edible oil in the country, around 40 percent of its total demand, from the 2024-25 fiscal, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said Tuesday. The Agriculture Ministry has a three-year term plan to reduce the dependence on oil import in the country and as part of the plan, 40 percent of the country’s total demand will be produced in the next fiscal, which will help to save almost Tk 10,000 crore, he said. Razzaque revealed this information while talking to reporters after a view-exchange meeting at the Secretariat. READ: Edible oil prices likely to drop in Bangladesh in line with global market: Commerce Minister The annual demand for edible oil in Bangladesh is 24 lakh tonnes. Of the total demand, we have to import 90 percent of the total demand and recently a crisis of edible oil arose, as it was being imported from foreign countries at high price, he said. To reduce dependence on the import of oil, we have taken the three-year term plan without reducing the production of paddy, he added. Farmers do not want to produce oil-based crops in the country, as it  doesn't make money. He also expressed his hope to achieve the target following fair implementation of the plan. As part of the three-year term plan, the government has set a target to bring 23.60 lakh hectares of land under mustard, sesame, peanut, soybean and sunflower production - almost thrice the existing 8.6 lakh hectares of land in the 2024-25 fiscal, the term minister said. They also set a target to increase the production of oil to 10 lakh tonnes from the existing 3 lakh tonnes, he added.

Bangladesh is the world’s third largest grower of vegetables with an annual production of 19.7 million tons, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said on Monday.   The minister said this after inaugurating the three-day National Vegetable Fair at city’s Krishibid Institution Bangladesh. He said, “We are tirelessly working to boost production of safe and nutritious food in the country and as a result the vegetable production has increased seven fold in the last 12 years.” The minister said in a seminar held later, “There is a concern over price hike of vegetables ahead of the month of Ramadan but I can assure that prices will not go up this year unless any natural disaster occurs.” READ: Stop trade based money laundering, Agriculture Minister urges customs officials Replying to a question Razzaque said there are some complications regarding the distribution of the vegetables due to transportation, extortion, intermediary issues. “If we can solve these issues, a fair price of vegetables will be ensured. Law enforcing forces, the ministry of commerce all will have to work together to keep the prices within buying capability of the masses," said Razzaque. READ: Onion price will cool down within 15-20 days: Agriculture Minister The minister said Bangladesh has huge possibilities in vegetable export and soon it will become one of the main sources of earning foreign exchange.

Advanced Dutch technology and skills will be used to preserve onions to increase their shelf life, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said Saturday. The minister made the remarks while inspecting Waterman Onions, an onion manufacturing, processing, packaging and exporting company, in the Netherlands. He said that the Government of Bangladesh is working towards achieving self-sufficiency in onions. During his visit the Minister expressed interest in bringing technology from the Netherlands to enhance improved varieties, production and storage period. Read: Proposal for duty withdrawal on onion import to be considered: FnM If there is a shortage of onions in Bangladesh in September-December, importing from the Netherlands can also be considered, he said. Later, the Minister of Agriculture visited All-round Vegetable Processing, a vegetable processing, storage equipment and agro-equipment manufacturer and marketing company. Read: Hili onion importers suffer as India bans export During the visit, the Minister called for setting up industries in Bangladesh through joint ventures. He said Bangladesh has a conducive environment for investment and the government of Bangladesh will provide necessary assistance in this regard.

The government is prioritising the cultivation of high-yielding paddy as occasional floods threaten the crop in haor areas, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said Sunday.  “Adequate amount of paddy is collected from haor areas every year which is very essential for food safety but sometimes floods destroy them. We're working to reduce the risks and prioritising cultivation of the high-yielding variety," he said at a Boro paddy collection programme in Shadhor haor of Mithamoin in Kishoreganj.  The government is prioritising paddy varieties that can be harvested 15-20 days earlier than the regular varieties. Combined harvesters and reapers are being provided there urgently considering the shortage of workers, the minister said. In the haor areas, paddy is cultivated once a year. Production should be boosted, Razzaque said adding that scientists have already invented high yielding paddy BRRI Dhan 89, 92. Farmers will be provided high-yielding varieties, he said urging their cultivation.  The work of installing regional Rice Research Institutes is underway for further research to invent more paddy species suitable for haor areas, he said. This year, Boro paddy is being cultivated on 1,66,950 hectares in Kishoreganj. Among them, 1,02,500 hectares are in haor areas. So far 53 percent and 39 percent paddy from haor and outside have been collected in the district. The government targets to produce 7,11,580 metric tonnes of paddy from here.    

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque has urged the developed nations to increase investment in developing and least developed countries and boost assistance to ensure global food security.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque on Friday said that currently, no one is starving thanks to agriculture friendly policy of the prime minister amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Monday asked the private seed production companies to make less profit as part of their social responsibility during the coronavirus pandemic.