Strengthening 75% of population involved in agriculture will boost economy: Minister

Around 75% of Bangladesh’s population is involved in agriculture and strengthening their economic condition will help strengthen the country’s overall economy, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said today (26 August).

“The government’s main objective is to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their produce,” he said at the closing ceremony of a two-day training programme organised by the Gajaria Upazila Livestock Office and Veterinary Hospital in Munshiganj.

The training was held under an integrated livestock development project for riverine char areas in seven districts – Manikganj, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur and Shariatpur.

Speaking about the proposed farmer card, Amin Ur Rashid said the government has taken an initiative to introduce the card, which will contain information about farmers’ land, crops and input requirements.

“If you have planted potatoes on how many kani of land, that information will be recorded by the government. The amount of fertiliser you need will also be included in the government’s records,” he said.

“Based on that information, the government will be able to prepare a plan before the potatoes are harvested. It will take some time, but all the problems of farmers can be addressed through this card,” he added.

Project to benefit 65,000 families

Project Director Dr Abdur Rahim said the government launched the Tk304 crore project in 2023 to improve the livelihoods of people living in 633 char areas across 31 upazilas in seven districts.

Around 65,000 families are expected to benefit directly from the project once it is fully implemented, he said.

“People in river erosion-prone areas often lose their homes and assets and migrate to cities. We are working to enable them to become self-reliant by raising livestock, farming fish and engaging in agriculture while remaining in the char areas,” Rahim said.

The project has so far achieved around 20% progress, he added.

Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi chaired the event.

At the end of the ceremony, the minister distributed 25 heifers and 50kg of cattle feed to each beneficiary farmer.

He later distributed saplings of different species among beneficiaries under another project and released fish fry of various species into the Mathabhanga canal.