Agriculture Minister Mohammed Abdus Shahid on Saturday directed the local agriculture department to formulate an action plan within the next 50 days to bring fallow land under cultivation in Moulvibazar district.

There is a lot of cultivable land. Now Boro season, but all the fields are lying fallow after harvesting the Aman paddy. So, “We have to find ways to utilize these lands,” he said.

The minister said this while talking to the farmers at a courtyard meeting held in the yard of farmer Indu Bhushan Pal Niru of Noagaon village of Srimangal upazila on Saturday.

He asked the farmers why the land is still fallow after harvesting the Aman paddy.

Besides, the minister directed BADC to take up action plan to solve the irrigation problem. He said that more agricultural machinery would be given at subsidized prices to solve the labor crisis.

“By achieving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's goal of not leaving even an inch of land fallow, we will increase food production and make the country food surplus,” he added.

The minister urged the farmers to cultivate more crops. He said that the government is always on your side, and all necessary support will be provided to you.

“If production can be increased, no one will be hungry and we do not have to import food, or spend foreign exchange,” he said.

Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Directorate of Moulvibazar District Samsuddin Ahmed, Upazila Executive Officer Abu Taleb, Upazila Awami League President Ardhendu Kumar Deb, and Upazila Agriculture Officer also spoke.

Around five hundred farmers participated in the meeting. Among them, Indu Bhushan Pal, Uttam Debnath, Atar Ali, and Mohibbur Rahman told their problems to the minister and urged him to resolve the problems.