Fuel prices hike will affect agriculture sector: Agriculture Minister

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzak said that the increase in the price of fuel oil will affect the agriculture sector. He made this comment in response to questions from journalists after speaking as the chief guest at a workshop organized by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Comilla Shilpakala Academy on Sunday (07 August) at 11 o'clock.

He said that the increase in the price of fuel will reduce the profit of farmers. But production will not decrease. Earlier, 40 kg of paddy was sold for 1100 or 1000 taka and profit was 100-150 taka. Now maybe the profit will be less. But production will not decrease. The farmers of this country are so selfless that they sell their wife's jewelry, sell cows and goats to buy fertilizer and apply it to land.

He also said that the Honorable Prime Minister has repeatedly said that the price of oil in the international market will decrease only when the Russia-Ukraine war ends. We will reduce oil prices again. Now a huge amount of subsidy has to be paid on oil, as a result of which government warehouses, government reserves will be completely reduced, then the whole nation will be under a threat.

Under the chairmanship of Agriculture Ministry Secretary Saidul Islam, Comilla City Corporation Mayor Arfanul Haque Rifat, Agriculture Extension Directorate Comilla Deputy Director Mizanur Rahman, Rice Research Institute Comilla CEO Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Kamrul Hasan and Police Superintendent Farooq Ahmed were present.