Dhaka, June 11 -- Economists and agricultural value-chain experts have called for raising allocations for the broader agriculture sector to 9.5 per cent of the national budget, arguing that a sustained investment is essential to fulfil the government's election pledges and ensure sustainable agricultural development.

They have also urged the government to make sure that its election pledges are reflected accordingly in the next budget, especially in respect of ensuring an uninterrupted supply of key agricultural inputs, particularly fertiliser and diesel, for the forthcoming Aman and Boro cropping seasons.

Professor Golam Hafiz Kennedy, an agricultural economist and value-chain expert from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), told ...