Agrilife24.com:Fisheries, Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid today stated that the government is implementing farmer-friendly policies by giving the highest priority to the agricultural sector.
He said the BNP government is fully committed to ensuring the sustainable progress of this sector by prioritizing the overall development of the country's farmers.
The minister made these remarks as the chief guest at a ceremony held this afternoon on the Cumilla Adarsh Sadar Upazila premises. The event was organized by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Adarsh Sadar, to distribute agricultural machinery among local farmer groups.
The equipment- including rice reapers, corn threshers, Low Lift Pumps (LLPs), canvas pipes, and hand sprayers- was distributed under the "Sustainable Agricultural Technology Extension Project in Cumilla Region" for the 2025–26 fiscal year and the "Bangladesh Sustainable Recovery, Emergency Preparedness and Response (B-STRONG)" project.
Minister said the government is continuously implementing various initiatives to ensure financial security for farmers, reduce production costs, expand agricultural mechanization, increase irrigation facilities, and guarantee fair prices for agricultural produce.
To make the national economy sustainable and resilient, the economic foundation of the farmers must be strengthened first, he said, adding, "If the farmers prosper, the country's economy grows stronger."
He highlighted that within two months of assuming office, the current government waived agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 expanded the farmer registration and card program, and introduced "Family Cards" to enhance the social and financial empowerment of women.
The minister recalled that the previous BNP government had played a vital role in expanding irrigation and canal digging for agricultural growth. Following that legacy, the government has launched a realistic canal re-digging program to ensure swift drainage of monsoon waters and adequate irrigation facilities during the dry season, which will ultimately boost production and mitigate waterlogging.
"Agricultural mechanization is the demand of the time. To address labor shortages and lower production costs, the government is providing financial assistance for using modern machinery in harvesting, threshing, and other farming activities," he said. He added that machinery is being supplied through union-based farmer cooperatives, with plans for a gradual nationwide expansion.
The minister directed field-level agricultural officials to play a more proactive role, urging them to maintain regular contact and provide essential counseling services at the union and ward levels to resolve farmers' issues on the spot.
The event was attended, among others, by Mohammad Rashed Hasnat, Director of the Sustainable Agricultural Technology Extension Project in Cumilla Region; Sabina Yasmin, Director of the B-STRONG Project; Mohammad Rezaul Karim Bhuiyan, District Training Officer; Fatema Tuz Zohra, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO); Mohammad Nizam Uddin, Upazila Agriculture Officer; Rezaul Kaiyum, President of Adarsh Sadar Upazila BNP; Shafiul Alam Raihan, General Secretary; and Md Nizam Uddin Kaiser, alongside local dignitaries and farmers.
Earlier in the morning, the minister released fish fingerlings into a waterbody at Cumilla Victoria Government College.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said, "We do not want a single inch of land to remain uncultivated. Every inch of land and waterbody will be brought under production to further boost the country’s food supply." He emphasized that every available resource must be utilized for agriculture and fisheries.
He reiterated that the ultimate goal of the government is to ensure food security and meet the nutritional demands of the public by boosting agricultural and fisheries production.
Responding to queries from journalists, the minister mentioned that the government has adopted a long-term plan to increase the production of indigenous fish species. To achieve this, large-scale fish fry release programs are being actively implemented across various open waterbodies.
A total of 132 kg of fish fingerlings-consisting of approximately 1,602 fries-were released into the college pond. The batch included 42 kg of Catla, 45 kg of Rui, and 45 kg of Mrigal.
Director General of the Department of Fisheries Md. Zia Haidar Chowdhury, Principal of Cumilla Victoria Government College Md. Abul Bashar Bhuiyan, and Adarsh Sadar UNO Fatema Tuz Zohra, among other senior officials, were present during the morning program.
