Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday proposed to allocate Tk 27,224 crore for the agriculture sector for FY26, reports BSS.
The proposed outlay is Tk 2,528 crore more than the revised budget for 2024-25.
The finance adviser made the proposal while presenting the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2025-26 in a pre-recorded broadcast on Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar.
In the budget of FY 2024-25, the allocation was Tk 27,214 crore while it was reduced to Tk 24,696 in the revised budget in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
"Food security is a major concern to this densely populated country. To increase agricultural production, steps have been taken to develop climate resilient crop varieties and improve farming technology, supply of agricultural inputs at affordable prices, expansion of irrigation areas, development of marketing system, and agricultural mechanisation", he said.
He said subsidies are being provided where necessary and exports of agricultural products are also encouraged after meeting domestic demand.
In the current fiscal year, agricultural inputs and cash incentives have been provided under the 'Agricultural Rehabilitation Assistance' program.
Small and marginal farmers affected by floods have also been provided assistance from this program, he said.
The adviser said to ensure an adequate supply of emergency agricultural inputs like fertilisers, our government has expedited the payment of subsidies for both imported and domestically produced fertilisers, covering the trade gap and the payment of arrears in fertiliser subsidies.
In this connection, he said subsidies for fertilisers and agricultural inputs will be continued in the next fiscal year.
The adviser, however, said that the present government had taken initiatives to rationalise the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to protect biodiversity, maintain soil quality and keep the environment free from pollution.
"To increase the use of organic fertiliser, farmer groups and NGOs are also being involved in production, marketing and extension of organic fertilisers," he said.
He said the use of environment-friendly technologies is being promoted to prevent the wastage of water during irrigation and better use of surface water and sustainable use of groundwater.
Salehuddin said different initiatives including strengthening cold storage and cold chain infrastructures, developing an agricultural transportation system and creating a comprehensive database of stakeholders in the agriculture supply chain, have been taken to strengthen the overall agricultural production system.
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