Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka have called for allocating at least 10 percent of Bangladesh’s national budget to agriculture research, expansion, and development. The event, titled “Budget 2026–27: Framework for Agricultural Development and Implementation Challenges,” was organized by the Agriculturists’ Association of Bangladesh (AAB) at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh. The discussion emphasized sustainable agricultural growth and long-term food security, urging the government to prioritize the sector in the 2026–27 budget.

The keynote paper, presented by a professor from Bangladesh Agricultural University, praised several positive initiatives in the new budget, including the introduction of a farmer card, interest waivers on small loans, low-interest credit for pulse, oilseed, and maize cultivation, solar-powered irrigation pumps, and cold storage construction in the Barind region. However, it noted that agriculture’s share in the national budget has declined to about 3.8 percent despite a total allocation of Tk 33,849 crore for agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and environment.

Speakers identified key challenges such as revenue shortfalls, weak oversight, rising input costs, and poor coordination among ministries. They recommended expanding agricultural insurance, investing in climate-resilient technologies, and strengthening inter-sectoral collaboration to ensure effective implementation.