President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said an initiative will be taken to launch a 'President's Agriculture Award' for new innovations and outstanding contributions in agriculture. He also stressed the need for an effective marketing system so that farm produce and grain reach consumers easily and farmers get the right price.

He was speaking on Sunday afternoon at Bangabhaban, where an eight-member delegation of the Bangladesh Krishak Samity led by its president Md Siddiqur Rahman Kul Moyez paid a courtesy call. The delegation included Md Abdul Jalil (Lichu Kitab), Md Hasan Ali (Dragon Hasan), Mst Beli Begum (Sabji Beli), Md Abu Taleb Joardar (Maachh Taleb), Md Hafizur Rahman Mukul, Tofazzal Hossain (Poultry) and Shawkat Alam.

The delegation asked for fair prices for farm produce, interest-free credit, a Farmers' Day and national awards for farmers, crop insurance, farmer representation on district and upazila law-and-order committees, protection from lightning and snakebite, and cheaper farm inputs.

The President said crop output has multiplied thanks to farmers' labour and the development and use of new high-yielding varieties and farm technology. He said the government has launched a new scheme for fair prices and farmer welfare with Tk 3,000 crore already allocated, and has written off farm loans of up to Tk 10,000 including interest.

He urged a national-level central organisation of farmers, above party lines, to protect their interests. Pointing to foreign demand for Bangladeshi fruit and farm products, he called on members to export processed produce using modern technology, set up agro-processing plants and modern cold stores, and use solar panels on farms. He also promised steps to lower interest on farm credit, especially loans from NGOs.

The Samity president told him of plans in Ishwardi to honour farmers over seventy and to hold a fair showcasing and commercialising modern farm products, and invited him as chief guest; the President said he was keen to attend.

This report is based on information from Barta24's Dhaka staff correspondent.

Photo: ASaber91 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Source: Barta24