Maize production to rise to 10m tonnes per year by 2025: Razzaque

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque has said besides the favorable climate, the farmers are being provided with modern technical assistance to multiply maize production in the country.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a virtual meeting organized by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute on Friday, said a release here today.

“There is a huge demand for maize in the country and abroad. Maize is being widely used as food for fish and livestock in the country. Therefore, initiatives have been taken to further increase the production of maize,” the minister said.

“Work is underway to increase maize production to 10 million tonnes per year in the next five years. And if we can do this, it will be possible not only to achieve self-sufficiency in maize production, but also to earn a lot of foreign exchange by exporting abroad,” he added.

The agriculture minister further said that as a result of change in food habits, the demand for wheat in Bangladesh is increasing but the production is very low.

He further said that if more developed and productive varieties suitable for this country are introduced, there is an opportunity to increase the production of wheat.

Martin Croft, Director General of the Summit, said that, “The good relations of cooperation between the Summit and Bangladesh will continue. The Summit will further enhance the development of wheat and maize in Bangladesh through research, development of improved varieties, training of scientists, innovation of technology and assistance in prevention and control of various diseases.”

Executive Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, Director General of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute Mohammad Israil Hossain and Timothy J Krupnik, Bangladesh Representative of CIMMYT spoke on the occasion.

Bruno Gerrard and BM Prasanna, Program Directors of the Summit, presented the keynote address at the seminar, Conducted by Emeritus Professor MA Sattar Mandal of Bangladesh Agricultural University.

According to the Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute, the production of maize in the country was 7.5 lakh tonnes in 2009, which has increased to 54 lakh tonnes in 2020.

On the other hand, the demand for maize is 65-70 lakh tonnes per annum. The country has produced 12 lakh 50 thousand tonnes of wheat in 2020, according to the release.

CIMMYT has been cooperating in increasing the cultivation, production and productivity of wheat and maize in Bangladesh for about 36 years since 1983.

CIMMYT and Bangladesh are working closely together in the fields of training of scientists, transfer of technology, Germplasm, innovation of improved varieties, prevention of crop diseases, etc.

CIMMYT is cooperating in the control and control of the recent wheat blast disease and armyworm insects in Bangladesh.