Country produces 26.13m tonnes rice, wheat annually
11/21/2005
As per Bangladesh Statistics Bureau (BSB) figures, the country produced 26.13 million (261.33 lakh) tonnes of rice and wheat per year. This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister MK Anwar in the National Parliament Sunday, reports UNB. The annul production of rice and wheat in Bangladesh is 25.16 million tonnes and 0.98 million tonnes respectively, said the agriculture minister while replying to Mohammad Giasuddin, MP, (BNP-Narayanganj). The minister added that in fiscal 2004-05, according to an estimate of the Agriculture Extension Directorate (AED), rice and wheat production was 26.87 million tonnes and 1.05 million tonnes respectively. The minister informed the Parliament that the government had taken some 17 measures to ensure self-sufficient of food in the country. The measures include waiving interest up to Tk 5,000 on agriculture loan, reducing interest on agriculture loan from 14 per cent to 8.0 per cent, exemption of 20 per cent electricity bill for irrigation, 30 cash incentives for vegetables and fruits exporters and exemption of 30 per cent electricity bill for agro-processing and agro-based industries. Replying to MAH Selim, the Agriculture Minister said Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has adopted several strategies to increase rice production by 25 per cent in 2025.
|