Procure maize to promote farmers, speakers urge govt

Speakers at a workshop here yesterday said the government should fix the minimum price for maize and procure it to promote its farmers and ensure fair prices of food grain, reports UNB. They also stressed the need for carrying out extensive food research and introducing new maze verities, especially salient tolerant ones, for the country’s southern region. Oxfam in Bangladesh arranged the workshop titled ‘Idea Generation on Maize Forward Market’ at BRAC Center Inn.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture Mokbul Hossain, Agriculture Extension Department DG Hamidur Rahman, among others, spoke at the programme held with Oxfam’s Economic Justice Resilience Program Manager Dr Khalid Hossain in the chair.
Representatives of PRAN, ACI, ACI Godrej Agrovet Private Limited, Kazi, Lalteer, Spectra Hexa Feeds Ltd., Krishibid Group, CP, BWCCI, Narish, BRAC, SEED, Pollisree, Gonochetona were also present.
“We want the government to fix a minimum price for maize as it has done for rice and wheat. The government should also come forward to procure maize similar to the other major crops,” said Dr Khalid Hossain. Hamidur Rahman said it is necessary to publicise the percentage of maize flour in the food ingredients as it will assist in eliminating the negative image of maize as food ingredient.
“We need to focus on food research and new varieties of maize such as sweet corn and popcorn are needed to be introduced along with salient tolerant varieties for the southern part of Bangladesh,” he added.
Mokbul Hossain said the organisations involved with agricultural sector and the maize farmers need to send the government recommendations, especially on pricing, procurement and capacity building. “We’ll definitely take those recommendations into consideration and implement those after proper review.”

Procure maize to promote farmers, speakers urge govt

Speakers at a workshop here yesterday said the government should fix the minimum price for maize and procure it to promote its farmers and ensure fair prices of food grain, reports UNB. They also stressed the need for carrying out extensive food research and introducing new maze verities, especially salient tolerant ones, for the countrys southern region. Oxfam in Bangladesh arranged the workshop titled Idea Generation on Maize Forward Market at BRAC Center Inn. Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture Mokbul Hossain, Agriculture Extension Department DG Hamidur Rahman, among others, spoke at the programme held with Oxfams Economic Justice Resilience Program Manager Dr Khalid Hossain in the chair. Representatives of PRAN, ACI, ACI Godrej Agrovet Private Limited, Kazi, Lalteer, Spectra Hexa Feeds Ltd., Krishibid Group, CP, BWCCI, Narish, BRAC, SEED, Pollisree, Gonochetona were also present. We want the government to fix a minimum price for maize as it has done for rice and wheat. The government should also come forward to procure maize similar to the other major crops, said Dr Khalid Hossain. Hamidur Rahman said it is necessary to publicise the percentage of maize flour in the food ingredients as it will assist in eliminating the negative image of maize as food ingredient. We need to focus on food research and new varieties of maize such as sweet corn and popcorn are needed to be introduced along with salient tolerant varieties for the southern part of Bangladesh, he added. Mokbul Hossain said the organisations involved with agricultural sector and the maize farmers need to send the government recommendations, especially on pricing, procurement and capacity building. Well definitely take those recommendations into consideration and implement those after proper review.