Natore:The government has allocated Taka 4.19 crore as incentives to 9,523 sugarcane farmers in two sugar mill areas within the district. This initiative aims to promote early sugarcane cultivation using advanced farming techniques.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the incentive distribution program was inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Rajshahi last Tuesday. During the event, incentives were distributed to two sugarcane farmers from each of the two sugar mills in Natore. Specifically, 5,454 farmers in the North Bengal Sugar Mills area received Taka 2.71 crore, while 4,069 farmers in the Natore Sugar Mills area were allocated Taka 1,48,27,500.
The Agriculture Department of Natore Sugar Mills indicated that these incentives are designed to encourage sugarcane cultivation through various methods. Farmers utilizing the STP method with intercrops received Taka 5,000 per acre, whereas those cultivating sugarcane from seed using the STP method were granted Taka 4,500 per acre. Additionally, traditional sugarcane cultivation was incentivized with Tk 4,000 per acre, early cultivation before December 15 with Tk 3,500 per acre, and ratoon cultivation with Tk 3,000 per acre.
Faruk Ahmed, the general manager (Agriculture) of Natore Sugar Mills, stated that lists of eligible farmers were drafted at the grassroots level and verified by teams from the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation and the Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute. Once finalized, the incentive payments were directly transferred to the farmers' bank accounts.
Abdul Malek, a sugarcane farmer from Gouripur in Lalpur under the North Bengal Sugar Mills area, expressed his joy upon receiving a cheque for Taka 21,000 from the Prime Minister, emphasizing the significance of the direct support. Similarly, Mohammad Jalal Uddin Mridha, a farmer from the Basudebpur sub-zone under Natore Sugar Mills, received Taka 51,000 and highlighted his family's long history in sugarcane farming.
Md Akhlasur Rahman, Managing Director of Natore Sugar Mills, confirmed that the funds had been successfully transferred to the farmers' accounts. Meanwhile, Mohammad Farid Hossain Bhuiyan, Managing Director of North Bengal Sugar Mills, stressed the importance of these incentives in boosting sugarcane cultivation, expanding the cultivated area, and enhancing yields, ultimately benefiting the country's sugar industry.