State Minister for the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, and Food Sultan Salahuddin Tuku has stated that the current government is working to make the country self-sufficient in food and turn surplus food into exportable commodities.
He made these remarks on Saturday afternoon at an event held at the Tangail Sadar Upazila Parishad premises, where free jute seeds, fertiliser, and agricultural equipment were distributed among small, marginal, and medium-scale farmers.
The state minister said, “We have adequate fertiliser stocks in reserve. Maximum monitoring is being carried out to ensure farmers receive fertilizer properly. No one will face any difficulty in obtaining fertilisers. The government will take effective steps in the future as well to ensure comprehensive cooperation for marginal farmers.”
He stated that a large part of Tangail Sadar consists of char (riverine island) areas. The government will make utmost efforts to develop the char areas. There is much fallow land in the chars, he said, adding that if these lands can be brought under cultivation, marginal farmers will benefit, and food supply to surrounding districts will also increase.
Tuku said that many vegetables and crops produced in the char areas are spoiled due to lack of proper preservation, causing losses to farmers. Plans are being considered to establish a cold storage to protect the crops of several unions in Tangail Sadar. This will ensure crop protection as well as fair prices for farmers.
He mentioned that this is the first time irrigation equipment is being distributed in the char areas. Jute seeds and fertilizer have already been distributed.
Presided over by District Commissioner Sharifa Haque, others who spoke at the event included Ziaur Rahman, Director of the Modern Agricultural Technology Extension Project (1st Amendment) in Bangladesh’s Char Areas; Ashek Parvez, Deputy Director of the District Agricultural Extension Department; Agriculturist Noor Alam Siddiqui; and Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Shahin Mia, among others.
