To increase agricultural production, a programme has been taken to cut 725 km of canals in Chattogram region, said Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque.
He said that projects worth Tk 211 crore have been taken up to modernize and multidimensionalize agriculture.
The benefits of these projects should reach the marginal farmers. Farmers' communication with the project should be increased.
He said this at an exchange meeting with senior officials of various departments under the Ministry of Agriculture in Chattogram, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts during the training of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Chattogram on Friday.
Instructing the field level agriculture officials to diversify the agriculture in the region and make agriculture more profitable, the minister said the officials need to be more sincere as well as reach out to the farmers to increase integrated farming to provide safe food and nutrition to all the people of the country. You have to listen to them.
At the meeting, the regional officials of the districts highlighted the current situation, problems, possibilities and tasks of agriculture in their respective districts.
They said about one-tenth of the country is located in the hills. In these hills, along with the conventional farming methods, the cultivation of non-conventional fruits will be very profitable. Especially in the hilly areas there is immense potential for the production of almonds, coffee and dragon fruit. If we can produce almonds and coffee commercially, it can be exported to meet the demand of the country. As a result, a revolutionary change in agriculture will be signaled in this region.
The Minister said Bangladesh is self-sufficient in granular food. However, natural calamities disrupted agricultural production. Attempts are also being made to cancel it. Agriculture not only provides food for the people, but is also one of the sources of industrial raw materials. That is why more importance is being given to agriculture. Agriculture has been one of the major contributors to the corona epidemic.
After listening to the various problems of the regional officials, the minister said that emphasis should be laid on the areas where the crop is good. To increase the income of farmers, processing, storage and marketing of agricultural products should be increased. Officials have to go to the farmer's land instead of just sitting in the office. They need to understand hands-on training and the future needs of specific crops. Only then will agricultural production increase manifold.
Agricultural Extension Wing Director AKM Monirul Alam, Horticulture Wing Director Md. Wahiduzzaman, Additional Director Md. Manjurul Huda, Rangamati Region Additional Director Pawan Kumar Chakma spoke addressed the meeting.