Several rights groups on Sunday demanded allocating 20 percent of the total budget for the next fiscal year for the agriculture sector.

The demand was made at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.

The press conference was jointly organised by 14 organisations, including EquityBD, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Kendriy Krishak Moitri and COAST Trust.

Aminul said the WTO, IMF and other international agencies have been forcing the government to reduce the subsidy on the agriculture sector.

According to WTO Nairobi decision, developing countries will remove subsidies within 2023 while Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and net food-importing countries will do that within 2030.

Mentioning that the decision to export rice is a very dangerous one for Bangladesh, Aminul said, "If rice is considered an export item, Bangladesh won't be allowed to provide subsidy even on paddy cultivation which will be very much suicidal for us."

Badrul Alam demanded forming a Fair Price Commission to ensure just and fair prices of produces of farmers.

Sajeda Begum called for providing capacity-building support to the farmers so that they can face the challenges of climate change.