State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad has said the government has taken different farmer-friendly programmes as part of the implementation of its election manifesto.
He said the principal and interest of agricultural loans of 5,890 farmers in Boda upazila of Panchagarh will be waived up to a maximum of Tk10,000 for ensuring financial relief to marginal farmers.
At the same time, a total of 29,450 saplings of different tree species will be distributed among the farmers to protect the environment, Azad told BSS in a recent interview.
Mentioning that the farmers are the main driving force of the country’s food security, the state minister said one of the government’s goals is to minimise their financial pressure and encourage them to produce more crops.
He said in the first meeting of the Cabinet on 18 February this year, a policy decision was taken to completely waive agriculture loans and interest up to a maximum of Tk10,000 in order to implement the election promises made to the country’s farmers.
A total of Tk1,567.96 crore has been allocated in the fiscal year 2026-27 to implement the decision.
Azad said the government has already paid off the loans of about 12 lakh marginal and small farmers and sharecroppers in the country.
Through this, they are not only getting rid of the debt liability, but also getting exemption from certificate cases in which they were accused of defaulting on loans for a long time, he said.
Consequently, the state minister said, the farmers are getting new opportunities to take bank loans, procure agricultural inputs and participate in production activities.
“Many farmers were listed as defaulters for years due to very small loans. Due to this, they have also been deprived of various government facilities,” he said.
“The government wants to change that situation. Our goal is to remove the debt burden from the farmers and bring them back to the mainstream of production,” he added.
The state minister said a total of 5,890 farmers in Boda upazila are coming under this special programme. Their total agricultural loans of about Tk8.73 crore, including interest, will be waived, he said.
As a result of the government’s initiative, Azad said, many farmers in the upazila will get a new opportunity to devote themselves to agricultural work.
“Boda is an agriculture-dependent upazila. Most of the people here depend on agriculture. If the financial capacity of farmers can be increased, there will be positive changes not only in agricultural production, but also in the local economy,” he said.
In addition to loan waiver, the state minister also said initiatives have been taken to distribute tree saplings among farmers to protect the environment and address adverse impacts of climate change.
He said each farmer will get five fruit, timber and medicinal tree saplings.
Accordingly, a total of 29,450 saplings will be distributed in Boda upazila, he said.
“On the one hand, the debt burden of farmers is being reduced, and on the other hand, they are being involved in environment-friendly activities. If farmers plant these trees around their homes, fields or vacant places, then in the future it will not only be beneficial for the environment, but will also create additional income opportunities for their families,” Azad said.
He said the government is not only looking at agriculture as a matter of production but it is working to make agriculture a sustainable sector of the economy.
To this end, the state minister said, emphasis is being given to the use of modern technology, soft agricultural loans, irrigation facilities, improved seeds, fertilizers and agricultural inputs, as well as ensuring the financial security of farmers.
He said agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by climate change. In this reality, initiatives have been taken to turn the tree plantation programme into a national movement alongside agricultural production, he added.
“If this programme is implemented with the involvement of farmers, it will play an important role in environmental conservation and biodiversity protection,” he said.
The state minister said the government’s goal is that no farmer should lag behind in production due to a small loan.
If agricultural production is boosted, the country’s food security will be stronger and the rural economy will also be more vibrant, he said.
Azad said, “If farmers survive, the country will survive. So, it is the moral and constitutional responsibility of the government to stand by the farmers. The incumbent government is working sincerely to fulfil that responsibility.”
He said as a result of debt relief, farmers of Boda upazila will be able to start farming with new enthusiasm. Meanwhile, the greening initiative taken by planting saplings will also help build an environment-friendly Bangladesh for future generations.
The state minister called upon the concerned administration, agricultural department, local public representatives and farmers to implement this programme in a coordinated manner.
If every farmer-friendly initiative of the government is implemented properly, the country’s agriculture will be stronger and the path to sustainable development will be smooth, he said.
Azad also said the time has come not only to support farmers, but also to give them dignity because the country’s food security is ensured by the labour of farmers.
He said the programme would be an important step in establishing that dignity.
