Initiatives taken to set up Purbachal agro-processing centre: Agriculture minister
The minister said it is possible to earn a large amount of foreign exchange by exporting vegetables to Europe and America
The government is taking initiatives to set up an agro-processing centre in Purbachal to export international standard agricultural products, said agriculture minister Dr Md Abdur Razzak.
He said this while inaugurating the Aus paddy harvest in Meherpur Sadar upazila organised by the district administration and agricultural extension department on Saturday.
Abdur Razzak said vegetables are very expensive in Europe and America. "If we can export agricultural products to the markets of developed countries, it is possible to earn a huge amount of foreign exchange. To this end, an initiative is being taken to set up an agro-processing centre in Purbachal," he added.
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Regarding the production of Aus, the agriculture minister said the government has given various incentives–including seeds, fertiliser and irrigation supplies to–the farmers to increase Aus cultivation. Fertiliser prices have also been reduced.
On the other hand, agronomists have developed many high-yielding varieties that have also increased the average yield as a result of cultivation.
High yielding variety yields 18-19 maunds of paddy from every bigha of land in Meherpur; which used to be around 2-3 maunds.
Agriculture secretary Nasiruzzaman said the harvest festival needs to be organised to popularise the new variety. At present, BRRI-48 is a better variety of Aus, but an even better variety, or mega variety, BRRI-63 is being brought.
