Trade leaders seek massive investment in seed production as Bangladesh is almost fully getting import-dependent for seeds to feed the most vital agricultural sector of the economy.
The country produces only 7.0 per cent of seeds locally and the rest 93 per cent have to be imported, they revealed this at a discussion arranged Wednesday by the apex trade body, laying bare the height of neglect towards essential input for agriculture that proved a saviour during the pandemic devastations.
Against this stark backdrop, the speakers at the meet laid emphasis on doing whatever is required to attain self-reliance in seed production for the sake of sustainable food security in the country.
It was the first standing-committee meeting of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) on Agriculture, Agricultural Processing and Agro-based Industries held at the FBCCI Icon in business-hub Motijheel.
Speaking as the chief guest, FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin noted food security is one of the most important issues for any country. It is agro-production that kept Bangladesh economy in a relatively better position during the Covid-19 onslaughts that had upended production process and supply chains worldwide.
He mentioned that the government has taken initiative to turn agro-based industries into export-oriented industries. As such, he urged private-sector entrepreneurs to come forward to invest in this sector.
The chief of the apex trade body observed that although Bangladeshi agricultural products are now exported abroad, their buyers are mainly expatriate Bangladeshis, not foreign consumers.
He mentioned that PwC (pricewaterhouseCoopers) has been appointed to conduct research in the London market to find out why these products are not being sold on the mainstream market in order to redress to the lacking.
He hoped that after receiving the research data, it would be possible to further increase export of Bangladeshi farm products abroad.
"The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries are interested in taking halal food from Bangladesh. Hence there is a lot of potential in this sector," the business leader told his audience.
Director-in-charge of the committee Dr Ferdousi Begum said huge import dependence for seeds is a risk to the country's food security.
"Achieving capacity in seed production requires long-term investment," she said, while urging the government to invest more in this sector.
Tasfia Jashim, co-chair of the committee, said that 54 per cent of the labour force in agriculture is women.
She lamented that equal pay for this huge number of workers has not yet been ensured.
At the same time, women own 10 percent or less of the land, she said, adding that formal recognition of women's contribution to sustainable development in agriculture is important.
Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Bab, senior vice-president of the FBCCI, assured that the recommendations received at the standing-committee meeting would be conveyed to the government authorities concerned for implementation.
He also promised any assistance from the FBCCI for development of the agricultural sector, the importance of which is emphatically felt during this time of agflation-general increase in prices of agricultural produce, at home and abroad.
Chairman of the standing committee Md. Abul Hashem said that a national conference will be organised soon on the initiative of the standing committee.
FBCCI Directors Bijoy Kumar Kejriwal and Harun or Rashid, Secretary-General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, Co-Chairmen of the Standing Committee, were among others present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com