Staff Correspondent, The Daily Star, 29 May 2008

 

Bangladesh Krishak Samity (BKS), a platform of farmers, yesterday demanded setting up government purchasing centres at every weekly market in rural areas to ensure fair price of rice and paddy for farmers.

At a press conference at Mukti Bhaban of Paltan in the city, BKS leaders also urged the government to set up bazaars at suitable places like one in Bogra inaugurated by the army chief recently.

They also demanded more allocations for agriculture sector in the next budget and urged the government to make sure that real farmers are benefited from the budget allocation.

In a written statement, the BKS leaders said the government should provide the farmers with agricultural inputs in time and without any hassles.

They also demanded distribution of agricultural inputs through Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC).

The leaders suggested giving more allocation for agricultural research saying that the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute was doing excellent job by inventing new high yielding varieties of paddy, and hoped that it would be able to invent more varieties if they are given more fund.

The BKS will submit memorandums to deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers across the country to press home their demands on June 7.

BKS Executive President SM Saboor, General Secretary Morshed Ali, Organising Secretary Sajjad Zahir Chandan, Vice- presidents Nurur Rahman Selim and Hari Sadhan Dey were present at the press conference.