If Bangabandhu's cooperative movement and philosophy can be successfully utilized, it will be possible to ensure fair price of farmers through further increase in agricultural production, processing and proper marketing in the country, said Agriculture Minister and Awami League presidium member Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.
He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman always spoke of cooperative movement and production system. In this cooperative no one will take the land of the farmer, but will produce the land of all together. Bangabandhu's cooperative philosophy must be used in today's Bangladesh. If this can be done successfully, the production in the fragmented lands of the country will increase manifold, as well as the processing and proper marketing of the products will be possible. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working towards this goal.
The minister said this while addressing a discussion meeting on National Cooperative Day at Madhupur Upazila Parishad auditorium in Tangail on Saturday. Madhupur Upazila Cooperative Office and the co-operatives organized the event. Earlier, the Minister participated in the Cooperative Day rally, inaugurated the expanded new building and library of Madhupur Upazila Parishad and distributed combine harvesters among the farmers at subsidized rates.
The minister said the present government is providing 50-60% subsidy to the farmers including combine harvesters and reapers. As a result, farmers are able to buy these equipment. Otherwise, a large number of farmers could have bought a combine harvester worth Tk 3 million. However, it will be easier for the farmers to buy agricultural implements through cooperatives or associations. Dr Razzaque said, ‘We are working to make full use of the opportunity to produce pineapple in Madhupur. Improved varieties of pineapple are being imported from the Philippines.