Rice farming with Myanmar
The report on the subject published in your 21st.April issue is an extremely pertinent and important matter. However as usual there is the predictable bureaucratic twist in it! Why and what have officials to go and see about contract farming there? What are our embassy officials doing there? Sucking their thumbs? It is a topmost priority for Bangladesh! Officials should not meddle in matters that need a private sector approach; if officials have any wisdom!
Best would be to support a private joint venture with Myanmar for cultivation, para-boiling and export of rice to Bangladesh from Myanmar. There is very good prospect for setting up such a venture. Rice in Myanmar is usually of "Atap" variety, while major market in Bangladesh is for "boiled" rice, A joint venture for growing, para-boiling and rice milling can be set up in Myanmar; and the product exported to Bangladesh!
This should be our official approach. Instead we plan to waste time and foreign exchange, to send officials to go and "see"; then come back and start the "paper chase" with an initial essay on contract farming, with notes and comments, as the fattening file moves from table to table, agency to agency, maybe ultimately getting misplaced or lost in inter-ministerial transit! Instead, encourage our private sector on this vital trade through joint venture, then may be, it will see the light of the day by early next year. That should be our logical approach. But possibly the priority of our officials, with no background in industry and business, is an all expense paid trip to Myanmar! Who are we to question why!
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments