Mohammad Masud Majumdar: Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that about 70 percent of the country’s people are involved in agriculture. If the farmer’s economy is strong, the overall economy of the country will also be sustainable and strong.
The minister said these things while addressing a gathering as the chief guest at the Harindhara Primary School ground after visiting the Gomti River and Jaintar Canal in Mainamati Union of Burichang Upazila this afternoon.
The minister told the agriculture officials that if the price of fertilizer is charged higher anywhere in the market, immediate action must be taken. If necessary, he ordered them to stay in civilian clothes and collect evidence of selling at an excessive price, record videos and take a bond as an action to take action against the seller concerned.
Stating that protecting the interests of farmers is the main responsibility of the government, the minister said that no activities against the interests of farmers will be tolerated. The minister further said that the government has fixed the fixed price for purchasing paddy from farmers. This price has been fixed taking into account the cost incurred by the farmer in producing one maund of paddy. Farmers produce crops through hard work, so it is very important to ensure their fair price.
He said that as part of the first phase of pre-piloting activities across the country, farmer cards have been distributed in 11 agricultural blocks in 11 upazilas of 10 districts. Assistance of Tk 2,500 has been provided to marginal, poor and small farmers and this facility will be extended to all farmers of the country in phases. Not through any brokers, farmers will directly get various facilities including harvesting machines from the agriculture office and only genuine farmers will come under this facility.
The minister said that the farmer card program was launched on the initiative of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The government is committed to the welfare of the country’s farmers. He said that during the time of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh achieved self-sufficiency in food through canal digging activities and rice export was also possible at that time. Besides, important initiatives like agricultural loan waiver and fertilizer subsidy were taken during the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Therefore, the BNP government is committed to taking all necessary steps to further advance the agriculture sector.
The Agriculture Minister said that although farmers work hard to produce crops, they are being deprived of fair prices due to various syndicates. The prices of agricultural inputs including fertilizers, seeds and pesticides are also high. He also said that the government will take strict action against these syndicates.
At that time, the Minister announced the construction of a modern vegetable storage facility at Nimsa Vegetable Market. He said that in this, farmers will get the opportunity to store their products and sell them at fair prices and local agriculture will be more prosperous.
The keynote speaker at the event was Md. Jasim Uddin, Member of Parliament for Comilla-5 (Burichang-Brahmanpara) constituency. Burichang Upazila BNP President ATM Mizanur Rahman presided over the event and General Secretary Md. Comilla City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu was the special guest at the program moderated by Kabir Hossain. Burichang Upazila Executive Officer Tanvir Hossain, Brahmanpara Upazila Executive Officer Mahmuda Jahan, local administration officials and political leaders were present at the time.
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