Successful persons in agriculture and its subsectors, which evidently saved the situation during the current penury-inflicting pandemic, are being honoured with VIP status that entitles them to state privileges.
Officials said pioneers in agriculture, fisheries, livestock and so on will be awarded as the important-person title under a newly issued policy.
Exporters of agricultural produce having market value of exportable goods at least US$ 0.15 million would also be eligible for the award.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) issued the 'Agricultural Important Person Policy-2019' Thursday. The policy had got the cabinet nod on November 20, 2019.
As per the policy, the AIP status would be given by the month of October through issuing a gazette.
The policy has determined the process of awarding API annually to 45 individuals under five categories.
Ten persons will be selected under agricultural innovation (variety or technology) category. Of them, five would be selected from crop subsector, two each from fish and livestock and one from forest.
Under agricultural production, establishment of commercial farm and agro-processing industry, the government would award 15 persons.
There will be ten winners under production of exportable agricultural products category while five from government-recognized or- authorized registered agricultural association members.
Five gold medal winners of Bangabandhu Agricultural Award will also be recognized as AIP.
Insiders in agriculture-machination industry, however, felt the need for creating a separate category for AIP award for the sector.
Group Chief Executive Officer of the Metal Group MM Farhad hailed the new policy, while suggesting inclusion of the persons involved in agricultural mechanization as a category for the award.
He said, "The government is subsidizing the agricultural mechanization until 2025 to expand its net. Only plough or land preparation has been mechanized so far while there is a potential to mechanize harvesting, seedling and other areas, too."
Mechanization of agriculture is a vital issue to encourage young generation to involve in agricultural work, he added.
Agriculture secretary Md Mesbahul Islam said the process of policy issuance got delayed for procedural steps but its relevant work of selection continued.
He said, "Agriculture mechanization has been included in the policy under the category of agricultural innovation."
Bangladeshi citizens who are agricultural scientists, entrepreneurs, producers, establishers of commercial agriculture farm, agro-processors or agricultural organizers are eligible to apply for the award.
The AIP status will remain valid for one year, and after expiry of the validity, the winners will have to return the AIP cards to the MoA or district offices of the Department of Agricultural Extension.
The policy empowers the MoA to withdraw the AIP status anytime through issuing gazette in case of detection of irregularities, fake information in the application forms, and corruption detected in financial audit.
"A person would lose eligibility to apply as AIP for next three years in case of detection of fake information," says the policy.
Any person facing punishment through court or being declared unwanted would not be able to apply for the award for next five years of punishment.
Loan defaulters would also not be eligible for the award.
Commercial producers of alien or invasive variety of agricultural products would also not be eligible for the AIP status.
An agriculture VIP will enjoy a number of privileges, including entry to the government Secretariat, VIP lounge-2 in airport, priority in cabin booking in government hospitals, mass transport, visa service, and invitation to state programmes.
The MoA will obtain clearance from the Bangladesh Bank, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Home Ministry before selecting the AIP.
Chief Executives, Managing Directors, Chairmen, Directors of joint- venture companies or the proprietor of a company will be eligible for applying for the award.
Anyone awarded as Commercially Important Person (CIP) will not be entitled to apply for AIP in the same year.
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