Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid on Monday stated that the government is executing farmer-friendly strategies by giving the highest precedence to the agricultural sector.
Addressing a ceremony at the Sadar Upazila premises as the chief guest, the minister remarked that the BNP government remains fully dedicated to sustainable advancement by prioritising the comprehensive development of farmers.
The event was jointly organised by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and Adarsh Sadar Upazila to distribute agricultural machinery, including rice reapers, corn threshers, hand sprayers, and Low Lift Pumps (LLPs).
These were provided under the “Bangladesh Sustainable Recovery, Emergency Preparedness and Response (B-STRONG)” project and the “Sustainable Agricultural Technology Extension Project in Cumilla Region”.
The minister emphasised that the economic foundation of farmers must be bolstered to ensure a resilient national economy, stating that the country prospers when farmers do.
He highlighted key achievements, such as waiving agricultural loans up to Taka 10,000, expanding farmer registration, and introducing the “Family Card” to empower women. He also announced a realistic canal re-digging programme to improve monsoon drainage and dry-season irrigation.
Describing mechanisation as a modern requirement to address labour shortages, Rashid noted that the government provides financial assistance for machinery through union-based cooperatives. He directed field-level officials to provide proactive, on-the-spot counselling to resolve farmers’ issues.
Earlier, the minister released 132 kilograms of fish fingerlings—comprising Catla, Rui, and Mrigal – into a water body at Cumilla Victoria Government College. He asserted that every inch of land and water must be brought under production to guarantee food security and meet nutritional demands.
The events were attended by Director General of Fisheries Md. Zia Haidar Chowdhury, project directors Mohammad Rashed Hasnat and Sabina Yasmin, UNO Fatema Tuz Zohra, and local BNP leaders Shafiul Alam Raihan and Md Nizam Uddin Kaiser.
