The agriculture minister was speaking at a meeting on the budget estimation for three years of the ministry and its various affiliated organisations under the mid-term budget framework.

Held in the ministry's conference room, the meeting was attended, among others, by State Minister for Agriculture Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Agriculture Secretary ASM Abdul Halim, and chief executives of various departments and divisions under the ministry.

The meeting was informed that under the on-going budget reform process, the budget estimation of fiscal years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 would be incorporated.

The ministry has estimated its total possible expenditure for these three consecutive fiscal years at Tk 1,985 crore, Tk 2,200 crore and Tk 2,430 crore respectively. The budget allocation for the ministry against the current fiscal is Tk 1,777 crore.

Terming the budget reforms as a "good step", the agriculture minister said the authority of spending of the allocated budget money should be decentralised.

Anwar said mental preparations are essential for utilising the allocated money properly. The quality of work and the accountability of the local level officials would be enhanced if the ministry gives them more authority.