bangladesh gateway   bangladesh newspapers bangladesh tourism bangladesh important links bangladesh egovernment
Home  Discussions Archive FAQ Site Map Feedback
 KEY TOPICS
 Bangladesh Profile
 Bangladesh Government
 Development Activities
 Agriculture
 Education
 Health
 ICT
 Industry & Commerce
 Microfinance
 Legal Aids
 Art & Culture
 Gateway Links
Other Country Gateways:
 ONLINE SERVICES
 e-Government
 Newspaper & Magazine
 Important Links
 Tourism
 Job Search
Make this your Homepage
Refer this Page to a Friend
List of holidays in 2007
Your Birthstone

Amethyst: February
Complete list of Nobel Peace Prize laureates from 1901 to 2006
Home

Home > Agriculture > Review of the Past Agri- Sector Policy Reforms

 

REVIEW OF THE PAST AGRI-SECTOR POLICY REFORMS
The ministry has undertaken successfully a number of policy reforms in the past for which it has received considerable recognition both within government and its development partner. Agri sector, by this time has already achieved the cherished and desired long-term goal of self-sufficiency in the production of rice. The major success of the ministry is its unquestioned success in spurring the growth of crop agriculture while saving considerable amount of local currency through eliminating the subsidies on fertilizer and also allowing private trade in fertilizer, minor irrigation equipment and seed sector. Structural adjustments started with the liberalization of different agricultural input delivery systems of public sector, such as-
  1. Liberalization of trade in minor irrigation sector and encourage the private sector for supply of minor irrigation equipment's of the country. This happened gradually in steps with the removal of restriction of import of small diesel engine in1986-87followed by the withdrawal of duty on such imports in 88-89. The subsidy on DTW was removed in 1992 and BADC-the government organization was removed from the procurement and distribution of minor irrigation equipment. These reform measures had a tangible effect on increasing the demand for irrigation equipment and consequently the rate of increase in area under minor irrigation.
  2. Privatization of trade in fertilizer with an objective to transfer the fertilizer management and distribution services exclusively in private sector; imports of all fertilizers are now being done by private sector except Urea. The private sector is not restricted from importing Urea. All fertilizers are being distributed through private sector dealers through their network . The Government is providing no subsidy on fertilizers at the farm level and is selling all fertilizers at full cost pricing. The government has issued the revised Fertilizer Control Ordinance in 1995 in consultation with private sector and IFDC for quality control and regulation of fertilizer prices. This has led to the increased availability and wider adoption of chemical fertilizer at the farm level and economic activities in rural areas have also increased manifold due to the withdrawal of government from fertilizer distribution.
  3. Liberalization of trade and foreign exchange for enhanced participation of private sector in Agricultural machinery of agriculture business. The Government has been continually reviewing conditions affecting competitive trade and taking action to remove barriers.
  4. Liberalization of production, processing, distribution and import of seeds to ensure the participation of private sector seed dealers in seed industry development. The private sector is now allowed to import any improved germ plasm for research and development and to develop its own facilities for producing foundation seeds. They are also allowed to import and sale seeds except five notified crops (rice, wheat, sugarcane, potato and jute). As regard to notified crops, there are procedural formalities to be observed by the private sector before any import. Private sector has now taken up programs for production of hybrid rice seeds in the country.
  5. Import of agri- machines , including power tiller, was liberalized - resulting in the positive effect on import of power tiller. The area under power tiller utilization also grew at about 3.5% per annum after introduction of the liberalization policy.
  6. Structural changes were also made in food supply and management system. Open Market Sale (OMS), procurement of food grains from the farmers at market prices, abolition of rural rationing system and allowing import of food grains by the private sector were the measures so far implemented.

Besides, structural adjustment, programs were also undertaken in public sector simultaneously which are as follows:

  1. In order to improve and provide the need felt extension services to the farmers at the grass root level, agricultural extension services were strengthened through introduction of "Agricultural Support Service System" in accordance with the provisions of New Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP); and
  2. In order to conduct uniform and coordinated research activities, agricultural research system was strengthened following the provision of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) through bringing ten primary research institutes under it with Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) at the apex.
  3. The process of structural adjustments in agriculture sector has been still going on in Bangladesh. The observed structural adjustments like liberalization of investment in minor irrigation sector, privatization of trade in fertilizer, liberalization of trade and foreign exchange have already started to effect favorable impact in the agriculture sector. It is expected that such favorable trend will continue to prevail in future also.

Table of Content:

About Us  |  Advertise with us  |  Terms & Conditions  | Private Policy  |  Contact