Terming farmers as the heart of the country, Bangladesh's Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar on Tuesday (May 30, 2023) said that the aim of the government is to stand by the farmers. "Whether they cultivate mango or paddy, the interest of the farmers must be protected,” the minister said at the inauguration ceremony of mango harvesting and marketing in 2023 season in Sapahar's Godown Para area on Tuesday. The Food Minister said under the leadership of the Prime Minister, there has been a bumper yield of Boro, Aman paddy and mangoes as well and farmers are getting a fair price for paddy. "I hope they will also get a fair price for mangoes,” he added. Sadhan Chandra said now the supply of local fruits is quite good. “Dollars will be saved if fruits are not imported from abroad and the nutritional value of local fruits is also high.” Read more: Bumper yield of Boro paddy satisfies Madaripur farmers “There is an opportunity to export various fruits and we are exporting mangoes. As a result, mango farmers are benefiting. But the problem is that foreigners want to know whether the mangoes are safe or not. We cannot show them certificate.” He hoped that in future it will be possible to export more mangoes with certificate from the safe food directorate. Chaired by Sharmin Jahan, assistant commissioner (land) of Sapahar, Upazila Parishad Chairman Md. Shahjahan Hossain, Upazila Awami League President Md. Shamsul Alam Shah Chowdhury and agricultural worker Shapla Khatun were present  atthe programme. Later, the minister inaugurated the Fish Chattar in Jabai Beel and the Joy Bangla Chattar on the Upazila Parishad premises. Read more: Salinity-tolerant rice cultivation brings delight to Barguna farmers

In an effort to increase the production of Aman paddy, the government has taken a decision to provide Tk 33.20 crore incentive to 4.90 lakh small and marginal farmers across the country, said the Agriculture Ministry. Under the  scheme, a farmer will get five kgs of seeds of high yielding (Ufshi) variety of T-Aman paddy, 10 kgs of DAP and MOP fertilizers free of cost, said a handout of the ministry. The incentive is being given from the regular budget and rehabilitation assistance and seeds sector of the Agriculture Ministry. Already an order in this connection has been issued and the distribution of incentives will start soon in the field level.        

The government has set a target to procure three lakh metric tonnes (mts) of Aman paddy and five lakh mts of boiled rice in the upcoming season. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder revealed the matter to reporters after a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee at the Secretariat. Read: Despite repeated warnings, Food Minister rules out any possibility of food crisis in Bangladesh The procurement price of Aman paddy has been fixed at Tk 28 per kg and boiled rice at Tk 42 per kg, he added.      

Farmers in the coastal district of Khulna are a worried lot because of something they had no control over -- drought. With aridity delaying the Aman paddy cultivation process by nearly one-and-a-half months, the 80,000-plus farmers in the district fear that they may not be able to even recover the production cost this year. According to the department of agricultural extension (DoAE), only 16,055 hectares of land have so far been cultivated with Aman paddy -- barely one-fifth of the targeted 93,070 hectares. According to the weather department, almost four to five times less rainfall was recorded this year in Khulna as compared to last year. Read: Jute growers paying for drought that resulted in discoloured fibre In 2021, a total of 388.89 mm of rainfall was recorded in June, 506 mm in July and 213 mm in August. But this year, 94.36 mm of rainfall was recorded in June, 91.27 mm in July, and 161.19 mm till August 23. In the current season, 3,630 hectares of land in the district have been cultivated with Aush paddy, 1,316 hectares with jute, 35 hectares with tomato, 273 hectares with watermelon, 295 hectares with beans, and 8,265 hectares with winter vegetables. Farmers say Aman paddy needs plenty of water. "I only know how I am managing water to irrigate my 10 bighas of land to keep the planted beans alive,” said Abu Hanif Morol, a farmer from Kharnia village of Dumuria upazila. Farmers of Bamandia, Panchpota, Gonali, Bhadradia and Tipna villages are irrigating their Aman fields with water from the Bhadra river -- but channelising the river water is increasing their production costs. Md Hafizur Rahman, deputy director of Khulna DoAE, said Aman is being cultivated with water from the river in Fultola, Terokhada, Rupsha, Batiaghata, Dumuria, Dighalia and Dakop upazilas.  "Meanwhile, in Paikgacha and Koira upazilas, farmers were unable to use the river water as it is still too saline," he said. Read: Drought-like situation frustrates Aman growers in Naogaon “Already 100% seedbeds for Aman have been prepared but the production will still be less than projected due to a drought-like situation, " said the Khulna DoAE official. Lack of rainfall has slowed down the entire Aman cultivation process, said Paikgacha upazila agriculture officer, Jahangir Alam."Farmers have been advised to get in touch with the Rural Electrification Board." Mizanur Rahman, deputy assistant agriculture officer of Dakop upazila, said apart from the delay in Aman cultivation, production of watermelons and vegetables has also been hit in Pankhali union.

The farmers of Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district have become frustrated with the increased salinity affecting their crop lands since Cyclone Amphan ripped through the country on May 20, leaving a vast tract of land unfit for cultivation.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Monday said that the government took different initiatives to reduce the Tk 349 crore damage primarily caused by the flood.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzaque said on Wednesday  cultivation of high yielding varieties of crops will be given priority to increase food production, aiming to tackle the possible food crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The government is trying to boost domestic food production to tackle any food crisis that may arise amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzaque said today.