The allocation for the agriculture sector in the upcoming budget is likely to see a significant rise as the government has taken various initiatives for this vital sector to ensure food security, boost the incomes of farmers and create jobs and thus improve the lifestyle of the rural poor. The total spending in this sector is projected to grow by 10 percent on average annually to Tk 377.07 billion in 2023-24 fiscal, according to a budgetary document obtained by UNB. The allocation for this sector in the running 2021-22 fiscal is Tk 319.12 billion while the projection for the next 2022-23 fiscal is Tk 344.26 billion. Read Bangladesh, Tanzania keen to work on blue economy, agriculture The allocation was Tk 239.17 billion, Tk 219.77 billion and Tk 297.25 billion in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscals respectively. This agriculture sector covers the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Land and Ministry of Water Resources. The document states that agriculture is one of the top priority sectors of the government, as it plays a leading role in advancing the growth path of the economy by enhancing productivity and employment opportunities. Read Hasan Mahmud calls for foreign funding to boost use of solar energy in agriculture "So, addressing the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on agriculture was considered urgent. As per the document, the share of agriculture to GDP in Bangladesh is currently more than 13 percent, and it is the main source of generating income and employment for the rural people, particularly the poor segment.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked agricultural scientists to conduct further research over local fruits and agricultural items to expand the market for those. 

A bumper production of crops usually brings smiles to the faces of producers, but the bean farmers in Dumuria upazila of Khulna are worried as supply glut has pushed down prices to the extent that they fear they won’t be able to get their production cost by selling the vegetable.

As part of its crop diversification and boosting agricultural output in the country, the government is taking region-based projects to promote the cultivation of new and high-value crops, and bring fallow, char and Haor lands under cultivation.

Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque on Sunday sought cooperation from India for agro-processing and farm mechanisation and said the two neighbours have many opportunities to work together.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will implement a food value chain development project at a cost of about Tk 882 crore to expand agricultural processing and agribusiness in Bangladesh.

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.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Oxfam Bangladesh and Green Delta Insurance Company Ltd have launched a new insurance scheme to protect casual agricultural labourers in Bangladesh from floods during this monsoon.