The government is working for the overall development of agriculture and farmers: Palak
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said agriculture is the main driving force for the development of Bangladesh. With this in mind, the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly for the overall development of agriculture and farmers.
The state minister was speaking as the chief guest while participating in an online free seed and fertilizer distribution program to help small and marginal farmers in Singra Upazila of Natore under the High yielding Aman paddy crop incentive program on Wednesday.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer MM Samirul Islam presided over the function organized at Singra Upazila Parishad Auditorium. Among others, Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishibid Selim Reza, Upazila Parishad Vice-Chairman Kamrul Hasan Kamran and Upazila Awami League Religious Affairs Secretary Maulana Ruhul Amin spoke.
Palak said that in the past, the condition of agriculture and farmers was dire. From '91 to '98 and from 2001 to 2006, farmers in the country had to visit the houses of the leaders of the then ruling political parties to get fertilizer tokens. In Dinajpur, 14 farmers had to die for demanding fertilizer. Farmers of Chapainawabganj have been shot dead demanding power for irrigation.
He said the government has been working tirelessly for the development of agriculture and farmers for the last 12 years, adding that the price of fertilizer has been reduced in several phases and arrangements have been made for farmers through dealers at the ward level. Improved seeds created through research have been made available to farmers. The government is heavily subsidizing irrigation oil and electricity. Extensive canals are being dug to facilitate irrigation. Incentives are being provided regularly to small and marginal farmers in different seasons. Agricultural mechanization and supplying agricultural machinery at half or more subsidized price.
He said there was a huge shortage of agricultural labor in the main areas of paddy harvesting seasonal agriculture. The state minister also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given an opportunity to purchase modern combined harvest machines at low prices with a 70 percent subsidy for the convenience of paddy harvesting.
The Farmer Friend Call Center is working to provide expert advice to farmers online. As a result of these agro-friendly activities of the government, the financial base of the farmers in the country has been consolidated and Bangladesh has become a food exporting country from a food deficit country.
Palak said the government has made extensive development of rural roads keeping in mind the development of agriculture and farmers. Now farmers can easily collect the products required for agricultural production and take them to their destination and market their produce. The widening of 64 km Natore-Bogra highway under construction at a cost of Tk. 745 crores will contribute to avail the fair price of the products marketed by the farmers.
They can even easily go to the port of Mongla or other land ports connected to this highway with their production. Referring to the deteriorating corona situation in the country, the state minister said animal marketing activities should be done through online digital haats instead of organizing the upcoming Qurbani hats directly. To this end, the Ministry of ICT has taken all effective steps. At the online digital Qurbani market, shoppers will be able to easily monitor the animals and set prices through video conferencing.
Later, on behalf of the ICT State Minister, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer distributed seeds and fertilizers among 600 families in the Upazila.
