Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to increase the production of edible oilseeds in the country and reduce the dependence on imports. She also said that there is a need to increase research in this regard and also for adequate allocation for research.
She made the directive at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday (22 March). After the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan and State Minister for Planning Prof. Dr. Shamsul Alam briefed reporters. Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Sheikh Hasina virtually presided over the ECNEC meeting from Ganobhaban. Planning Secretary Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty, Member (Secretary) of the Department of Physical Infrastructure Mamun-al-Rashid, Member of the Department of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Sharifa Begum, and other members were present on the occasion.
Referring to the directives of the Prime Minister, the Planning Minister said that soybean and sunflower cultivation needs to be increased in Feni and Noakhali areas to increase oil production. The recent rise in the price of edible oil has been discussed at the ECNEC meeting. Then the Prime Minister said that there is no alternative to increasing production in the country to reduce the crisis of edible oil.
State Minister for Planning Dr. Shamsul Alam said that good quality nuts are grown in Feni and Noakhali areas. The Prime Minister spoke about the production of oilseeds there. To reduce the import of edible oil, soybean, sunflower, and mustard production should be increased. The Prime Minister also said that emphasis would be placed on research in this regard if necessary. The Prime Minister gave these instructions while approving the project of setting up seed breeding farms in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh at a cost of Taka 439 crores.
