Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter on Thursday said the government will take specific steps to boost pulse production aiming to cut its export dependency.
"Specific initiatives will be taken to increase pulse production so that 13-14 metric lakh tonnes of pulse could be produced in the country, which will eventually reduce its export dependency," she told a meeting here.
The meeting was arranged at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium on the occasion of the World Pulses Day.
Speaking as the chief guest, Wahida said the incumbent farmers-friendly government increased pulse production four times in the last 14 years.
The country's pulse production is 10 lakh tonnes against the demand of 26 lakh tonnes and that is why 13-14 lakh tonnes of pulse have to be imported each year, she said.
Chaired by BARC executive chairman Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation chairman Abdullah Sajjad, its member Mustafizur Rahman, Pulse Research Institute director Md Mohiuddin and its former director Tapan Kumar Dey.
