Dhaka:Bangabhaban: President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today urged farmers to establish a national-level organization to ensure their overall development and protect their interests, without regard to party affiliation or personal viewpoints.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this call was made during a meeting with an eight-member delegation from the Bangladesh Farmers Association, led by its President Md. Siddiqur Rahman Kul Moyez. The meeting took place at Bangabhaban, where other members of the association, including Md. Abdul Jalil, Md. Hasan Ali, Mst. Beli Begum, Md. Abu Taleb Joaddar, Md. Hafizur Rahman Mukul, Toffazzal Hossain, and Shawkat Alam, were also present.
President Alamgir emphasized the importance of farmers in the country, stating they are the individuals who build the nation. He announced plans to introduce the President's Agriculture Award to honor farmers for new innovations and significant contributions in agriculture. He assured them of full cooperation and encouraged them to turn their interests into a movement.
Highlighting the progress in the agriculture sector, the President noted the increased crop production resulting from farmers' hard work, the development of high-yielding crop varieties, and the effective use of technology. He stressed the need for an efficient marketing system to ensure farmers receive fair prices for their products.
The President pointed out that the government has launched a new scheme to guarantee fair prices for agricultural products, with Tk 3,000 crore already allocated for this purpose. Furthermore, agricultural loans, including interest up to Tk 10,000, have been waived, and there are plans to reduce interest rates on loans from NGOs.
In his remarks, the President encouraged the association's members to explore export opportunities for agricultural and processed products, leveraging modern technology to access international markets. He also advocated for establishing agro-processing industries, modern cold storage facilities, and the use of solar panels on farms.
The farmers' delegation presented various demands, including organizing a reception for farmers over 70 years old in Ishwardi to celebrate their contributions and holding a fair to showcase modern agricultural products. They invited the President to attend the event as the chief guest.