Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today informed the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) that his government has implemented several timely plans for the advancement of the country’s agriculture sector, addressing challenges posed by climate change, population growth, land reduction, and technological constraints.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Prime Minister emphasized Bangladesh’s reliance on agriculture, noting its critical role in ensuring food security, poverty alleviation, and economic development. However, he acknowledged the sector’s vulnerability to various challenges, including climate change and technological limitations. In response, the government launched the Farmer Card on April 14 to transform agriculture into a sustainable and profitable sector by increasing production and productivity.
The Farmer Card initiative, he stated, offers farmers access to ten types of services, including agricultural inputs at fair prices, irrigation support, easy loans, subsidies, training, weather updates, crop protection advice, insurance, and fair market access. The government aims to extend this card to all farmers nationwide as part of its strategic plans for agricultural development.
As part of these plans, the government is enhancing modern irrigation systems and promoting the use of improved, high-yield seeds and balanced fertilizers to boost agricultural productivity. An initiative has already been launched to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals to enhance irrigation efficiency.
To promote agricultural mechanization, the government plans to make tractors, harvesters, reapers, and other equipment more accessible to farmers through subsidies. Additionally, a ‘crop zoning’ system has been introduced to optimize land use by identifying and cultivating crops suitable for the specific soil, climate, and environmental conditions of various regions.
The Prime Minister also highlighted efforts to bring fallow lands, especially in the Sylhet region and char areas, under cultivation through special projects, in addition to diversifying agricultural products beyond rice to include fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, spices, and flowers.
To ensure transparency and accountability in farmer support activities, subsidies will be distributed via the Farmer Card for seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and other resources. Furthermore, low-interest agricultural loans and crop insurance are being introduced, along with special assistance programs for farmers affected by natural disasters.
For the welfare of landless, marginal, and smallholder farmers, the government allocates funds annually under the ‘Agricultural Rehabilitation Assistance’ program. The current fiscal year has seen an allocation of Taka 7 crore, with Taka 401.60 crore already released for distributing free seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs to benefit 25.22 lakh farmers.
Modern cold storage facilities and warehouses are also being constructed to preserve agricultural products. Initiatives to install mini cold storages for perishable produce and establish agricultural export zones and procurement centers in northern regions are underway to boost agricultural exports.
Recognizing the importance of agricultural research and innovation, the government is working with institutions like the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient crop varieties.
Moreover, the government is committed to implementing ‘climate smart agriculture’ to counter the impacts of climate change, promoting environment-friendly practices by cultivating saline, drought, and flood-tolerant crops, and improving water management while minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Efforts to promote precision agriculture include using mobile apps like the ‘Khamari App’ to optimize irrigation, fertilizer, and other input usage through location-based crop cultivation, thereby ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.