Flood-affected haor farmers to receive Tk7,500 monthly support for three months: Minister

Farmers affected by recent floods in the country's haor
regions will receive monthly financial assistance of Tk7,500 for three months,
Agriculture Minister Amin-ur Rashid said today (4 May).
He added that the amount could be
increased depending on the extent of the damage. The support will be provided
to help affected farmers cope with losses.
The minister made the remarks while
speaking to reporters after a meeting with district commissioners (DCs) during
the DC Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
Earlier, a session involving the ministries of agriculture,
fisheries and livestock, and food was held with the DCs.
"A plan is being considered to
provide financial assistance from the prime minister's relief fund, other
funds, and the disaster management fund to all farmers affected in the haor
areas. It is not possible for the government to compensate for the full extent
of the losses," he said.
"They will be provided with
assistance for the next three months. Initially, each affected farmer will
receive Tk7,500. A committee is being formed for this, and a list is being
prepared at the field level," he added.
Responding to questions, the
minister said that although there has been a bumper potato harvest, many
farmers are not receiving fair prices. To address this, the government has
introduced farmer cards.
Once fully implemented, the system will allow authorities to track which potato
varieties are cultivated in different districts and unions, the extent of
cultivation, and how many farmers are involved.
It will also indicate how much
cultivation remains. He said the system could move towards a quota-based
approach if necessary.
The minister said planned
production would help ensure fair prices for farmers while allowing consumers
to purchase products at reasonable rates.
He noted that natural disasters
remain beyond human control and often affect farmers even after good harvests
due to excessive rain or flooding. In this context, increasing potato
consumption in daily diets is also under discussion.
He further said Bangladesh has
recently achieved success in producing special potato varieties used for making
French fries and chips, which were previously imported. With good domestic
production this year, the government hopes to export these potatoes in the
future.
Regarding cattle movement across
the border, the minister said some border markets have been closed as unusually
large numbers of cattle were arriving compared to actual demand. The Border
Guard Bangladesh is monitoring the situation.
He added that while there is no
surplus of cattle in the country, there is also no risk of shortage. Farmers
can hold onto cattle for a longer period if market prices are not favourable,
which sometimes creates a perception of surplus.
The minister also noted growing
interest among educated youth in agriculture and farm management, describing it
as a positive development for the sector.















