Dhaka launches diplomatic initiatives to procure fertilizer

DHAKA, Bangladesh, July 1 (BSS) - Bangladesh today launched a diplomatic campaign to procure fertilizer for the next aman crop season with a meeting of foreign and agriculture advisers with envoys of the countries that export the vital agriculture input.

A foreign office statement said foreign affairs adviser Dr
Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and agriculture adviser Dr CS Karim
jointly held meetings with Russian ambassador Gennady P.
Trotsenko and Moroccan envoy Mohammed Houroro at the foreign
ministry as part of the "massive diplomatic initiative to procure
fertilizer".

According to the statement the government would shortly send
delegations to Russia and Morocco to finalise deals for "as much
fertilizer as can be purchased" and a decision was also taken to
procure fertiliser from Belarus as well.

"The boro yield of 17.6 million tonnes was a great success
story in our food security. We are aiming at 13 million tonnes of
aman," Dr Iftekhar told newsmen after the meetings with the
envoys.

"For this inputs such as fertilizer are prerequisite and the
foreign ministry is cooperating closely with the agriculture
ministry to locate possible sources."

Disclosing the current agriculture strategy, Dr CS Karim said
the government would spare no efforts to support the farmers with
all essential inputs.

A massive agriculture shortfall due to subsequent floods and
the deadly cyclone Sidr at the fag end of 2007 coupled with a
global scarcity sparking a worldwide food price hike caused the
food deficit in the country.