The government is going to transform the plant quarantine laboratory at the central packing house in Shampur, Dhaka, into an international standard laboratory.
For the implementation of the project, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has been allocated Tk 156.36 crore.
The allocation was made at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday, August 24.
The meeting also allocated Tk 209.17 crore for the implementation of the third phase of a comprehensive technology-based integrated resource management project aimed at alleviating poverty.
Besides, Tk 106.25 crore has been released for the Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management project.
After presenting the projects for approval at the meeting, the Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Sheikh Hasina approved the projects through video conferencing from Ganobhaban.
After the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan and State Minister Dr. Shamsul Alam explained the instructions of the Prime Minister about the 8 projects approved at the ECNEC.
A central packing house will be constructed at Shampur in Dhaka from January 2021 to December 2023. Under the project, equipment for setting up 3,315 square feet existing plant quarantine laboratory building, physical infrastructure repair, mycology, bacteriology, virology, nematology and microbiology lab will be procured and installed. If the project is implemented, it will be possible to maintain safety and quality in the export of vegetables abroad.