Mechanisation in agriculture crucial for food sufficiency: minister

Mechanisation in agriculture is very crucial for Bangladesh to maintain food sufficiency as the government aims to ensure that no one goes hungry, said Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque today.

The government is now bearing 50 per cent to 70 per cent of the cost of farm machinery through subsidies to expedite mechanisation. "We have already modernised agriculture significantly," he said.

Razzaque was addressing a two-day workshop on "Agricultural Mechanisation in Bangladesh-The Future" organised by USAID-funded Feed the Future Bangladesh Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia-Mechanization and Extension Activity (CSISA-MEA) and Bangladesh Agricultural University at Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka.

"Private banks and financial institutions should come forward to facilitate farmers with modern machinery and development organisations can play a role to teach proper use and maintenance of modern tools," he said.

He said the country has also made great strides in the food processing sector which would enable smooth commercialisation of agriculture and increase profitability.