Agriculture top priority for Bangladesh' 2009-10 budget

Bangladesh's government has given top priority to agriculture and rural development in its BDT1.14 trillion budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

The budget allocated about BDT90.65 billion for boosting production of food products, and BDT7.16 billion for increasing fish products. The budget also allocated BDT14.83 billion for water resources and BDT83.21 billion for rural development.

The allocation was aimed to gradually achieve self-sufficiency in food by 2012. Bangladesh currently produces about 30 million tonnes of rice per year, but often faces a shortfall in domestic supply due to natural disasters such as floods and storms.

About BDT36 billion in the budget will be for extending subsidy to the farmers.

US$1 = BDT68.8 (Jun 12)