75pc Paddy in Vulnerable Areas Harvested: Minister

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said Wednesday that 75% of Boro paddy has been harvested in poor areas of the country, including Sunamganj.

During a visit to paddy harvesting in the haor areas of southern Sunamganj, he disclosed the information.

Boro paddy supplies more than half of the country’s total rice production throughout the year.

He said the coronavirus outbreak has disrupted global food production.

"Various international organizations have also expected food shortage or drought [in the near future]. Taking note of these, Prime Minister Sheik Hasina has consistently called for an rise in agricultural growth. She encourages her to plant crops in every inch of land, "Razzaque said.

“We’re working towards that goal.”

Razzaque and Planning Minister MA Mannan visited haor areas of different Upazilas to encourage farmers and to see the progress of Boro harvesting.

The Agriculture Minister said the country’s food security will be ensured if the crop is properly harvested.

Razzaque said his ministry is working relentlessly.

The government has made arrangement to allow workers from other districts to travel to haor areas for paddy harvesting. Besides, tools have been given to haor farmers for harvesting.

“Seventy per cent of the equipment cost will be borne by the government and farmer will bear the rest,” he said, adding that combined harvester and reaper machines have been brought from other areas of the country.

Razzaque said farmers have harvested 65 per cent paddy in the haor areas.

The agriculture minister said the government is always by the side of the farmers and workers. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced a grant of Tk 1 lakh from her relief fund for farmers who would be killed by a lightning strike while doing agricultural work.

The minister urged everyone to continue agricultural work so that production does not stop amid the coronavirus outbreak, saying that the government will provide medical assistance to anyone diagnosed with coronavirus.

Razzaque distributed two harvesters among the farmers. The two ministers also inaugurated the agricultural machinery programme at a subsidy of Tk 100 crore recently given by the Prime Minister to facilitate paddy harvesting.

In order to facilitate paddy harvesting, various agricultural machinery, including some 1,300 combine harvesters, 934 harvesters, and 22 rice transplanters, have been given to farmers at a total cost of Tk 200 crore, said the Minister of Agriculture.

Planning Minister Mannan said the government assigns tremendous priority to the health and agriculture sectors. Such two fields are similar to one another.

“People can't survive without health and agriculture. The agriculture sector’s allocations will be increased in the next budget so that crop production can be increased by modernizing and mechanizing agriculture,” he said.

Source: UNB