Agriculture Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque on Saturday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remains beside the affected farmers of the country.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remains beside the affected farmers of the country as the incumbent government is taking pragmatic steps in the development of the agricultural sectors," he said.
The minister made the remarks while inspecting the embankments for crop protection and Boro paddy fields at Chapati Haor at Derai upazila in Sunamganj district.
Razzaque said the concerted efforts of all including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) will be taken for construction and timely repairs of the embankments to protect crops in the country.
The works of short-term advanced paddy cultivation, construction of sustainable dams, timely inter-ministerial coordination for timely renovation, and provision of adequate paddy harvesting machines such as combine harvester and reaper in Haor for early harvesting of paddy, are underway on a priority basis, in order to reduce the risk of Boro paddy in haors, he added.
The existing policy on dam repairing and maintenance will be re-evaluated, he said, adding that river dredging will be initiated to increase water holding capacity if needed.
As a result of the labor crisis, combined harvesters and reapers are being provided in Haor on a priority basis for the quick harvesting of paddy, the minister added.
The present farmer-friendly government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is providing harvesters and reapers to the farmers with 70% subsidy, he continued.
