No possibility of food crisis or famine in country: Dr Razzaque

Rejecting the possibility of famine in the country, Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque today said there will be no food crisis or famine-like situation unless any big natural disaster hits the country.

"Good Aman crop and expected bumper yield coupled with huge local food stock, ultimately make it clear that the country is not at risk of food crisis or famine," he said.

The minister said this while attending at Aman crop cutting festival at Haibathpur under Damurhuda uapzila here on Tuesday morning.

Regarding the food crisis amid in the wake of global crisis due to Russia-Ukraine war, Dr Razzaque said the country has now adequate food, so no food crisis will happen in the country if any natural disaster occurs.

Talking about country's onion production, Dr Razzaque said the government is implementing the roadmap to reduce onion import dependency, adding "Onion production has increased by nearly 10 lakh tonnes in last two years."

He said the country produces adequate onion seasonally, but huge amount of onion is damaged every year in the country due to lack of developing preservation technology.

So, the country needs to import onion every year to meet the demand, said the minister who had visited the summer season onion field of the upazila during his visit.

The minister said, "We are giving importance to summer season onion farming as necessary inputs including seed, fertilizer and technology are being provided to the farmers. If we can make the summer season onion popular among the farmers then the country will not only become self-sufficient in onion production but also export onion abroad," he added.

Regarding fertilizer stock, the minister said the government is giving topmost priority to ensuring fertilizer stock and supply so that no crisis occurs during the upcoming Boro season.

Ali Asgar Tagore MP, Agriculture Secretary M Sayedul Islam, BARC's Executive Chairman Sheikh M Bakhtiar, DAE's Director General (DG) Benjir Alam, BRRI's DG Shahjahan Kabir, BARI's DG Debasish Sarker and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chuadanga, among others, attended the function.