Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzque on Sunday said that in the past decade, no one died in Monga, the people of the country did not even observe any food shortage in the country.
The minister said that in the past ten years or more, not a single person died of food crisis in the country.
The term 'Monga' is purely a local phrase which used to affect most people of northern Bangladesh regularly during certain period of the year.
Agriculture Minister made the comments while speaking at a seed distribution program among the flood affected farmers organized by Bangladesh Seeds Association at BARC (Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council) in the capital on Sunday. M. Anis Ud Daula, President of Bangladesh Seed Association presided over the ceremony.
He said, “Due to the government’s food friendly program the country is now secured with sufficient food stock. After forming the government, food security was one of our major agendas. Hence, no one died due to shortfall of food.”
He also said, “Those who are dreaming that the country will be Sri Lanka, the food crisis will go in a difficult situation, such situation will never happen in the country.”
Regarding the good seeds collection, the agriculture minister stressed on more research. The minister said, “Despite having good production of tomatoes, we still import tomatoes. While searching the reason I found that our tomatoes are not good to produce some processed items like tomato sauce or ketchup and others. Why the locally grown tomatoes cannot meet the demand our scientists should find the reason and produce such international quality tomatoes.”
He said that in the past, due to shortage of good quality seed production was less. But now Bangladeshi researchers and scientists have developed new seeds varieties. Like BRRI 81 and BRRI 82 give good production of paddy and rice. We have so many seed invention. As a result, our productions have increased and food security is ensured,” the agriculture minister further said.
In the event, 30 tons of hybrid and high yielding varieties of Aman rice seeds were distributed among 13,325 farmers in 77 upazilas of 13 districts.
Agriculture ministry secretary Md. Saidul Islam, Additional Secretary and Director General of Seed Division Abdullah Sajjad, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, and Director General, Directorate of Agricultural Extension Agronomist Md. Benazir Alam also spoke on the occasion.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Seed Association H. M. Humayun Kabir gave the welcome speech.