Agri ministry has used 42pc of ADP allocation

This was disclosed at a progress review meeting of the programme under the ministry, an official handout said.

Agriculture Minister MK Anwar presided over the meeting at the ministry.

Urging speedy implementation of the projects, MK Anwar asked the officials concerned to make advance plans to utilise the allocation. He said nobody should wait for fund release.

"You implement the work first and make payment when the fund released," he asserted.

The meeting reviewed the state of annual demand and coverage, country-wide soil testing, replication of integrated pest management programme across the country to control pesticide use and popularise organic production, reorganisation of BADC, and strengthening of training facilities for agriculture officials.

He asked the officials to finalise the country's total annual seed demand assessment. He also asked them to take a coordinated programme involving BADC, Department of Agriculture Extension, Barind Multi-purpose Development Authority, Seed Certification Agency and Research Organisations to increase seed production to meet the demand locally.

He said sufficient and quality seeds are the important means to increase production. He also emphasised increasing irrigation coverage from the present 55 percent to 70-75 percent using the surface water. It will help increase production substantially, he said.

The meeting reviewed implementation process of the on-going 82 projects and the appraisal process of 38 new projects for agriculture development.

Agriculture Secretary Kazi Abul Kashem, officials of the different ministries and divisions, and chief executives of various agriculture organisations attended the meeting.