Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque has urged the researchers, scientists and officials to adopt a specific action plan to become self-sufficient by increasing the production of onion in the country.
"We have to be self-sufficient in onion production. Crisis is going on with onion in the country. The Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute and other concerned organizations will have to come together and finalize the action plan soon on how to deal with this crisis and within how long it will be possible to become self-sufficient by increasing production,” the minister said.
The minister was speaking through videoconferencing at central research review and program formulation workshop at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) on Wednesday. State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russell and Agriculture Secretary Md. Nasiruzzaman were present as special guests.
"If we want to be self-sufficient in onions, we have to produce it in summer. The government will provide all kinds of assistance to onion growers including seeds, materials and technology. We have to discuss this with the farmers and motivate them. A list of how many farmers will plant onion in every upazila of the country next summer has to be prepared,’ the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister directed the officials to prepare a list of farmers, determine the demand for onion seeds and set production targets within the next 1-2 months.
Abdur Razzaque further said that under the strong leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the present government has established good governance in the distribution of agricultural materials including fertilizer and seeds. There is no crisis of agricultural materials in the country. Farmers are getting these materials including fertilizers and seeds on time very easily without any hassle.
The prominent scientist Dr. Kazi M Badruddoza, former Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Hamidur Rahman, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Md. Abdul Mueed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Sayedul Islam, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Sheikh Md. Bakhtiyar, BARI’s director Dr Md. Miyaruddin also spoke there and BARI's Director General Dr Md Nazirul Islam presided over the function.
It is to be noted that as the largest research institute in the country, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute is continuing its efforts to achieve food and nutrition security by innovating new varieties and technologies of crops.
The institute has so far developed 585 high yielding (including hybrid) improved varieties of wheat, maize, barley, ‘kaun’, china, pulses, oilseeds, horticultural crops and spice crops and 551 other technologies out of which 1136 have been developed. Many of these technologies are currently being used by farmers at the field level and are making a significant contribution to increasing crop production.
During the last term of the present government and till date (2009-2020) Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute has developed 280 high yielding improved varieties and hybrids of various crops including wheat, maize, potato, pulses and oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, flowers and spices and about 270 has invented advanced crop management technology. All these technologies are playing a major role in achieving food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation, income and employment growth through increasing agricultural production in the country.
