In order to increase high-yield Aus paddy output in the next fiscal year (FY2019-20), the government is planning to provide seeds and chemical fertilizers free of cost to small scale farmers.
As part of this incentive package of Tk4.18 crore, 459,226 farmers from all 64 districts of the country will receive support from the government.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak announced this to journalists at the end of a meeting held at the ministry's conference room on Thursday.
He said: "Under this incentive package, each farmer can receive five kilograms of seed, 15 kg of DAP [diammonium phosphate] fertilizer, 10 kg of MOP [muriate of potash] fertilizer, Tk90 for transportation, and Tk20 for incidental expenses for a maximum of one bigha of land."
Of the 1,365,412 hectares of land allocated for Aus paddy cultivation for FY2019-20, 61,354.8 hectares will receive free seeds and fertilizer under the incentive program.
This will lead to rice production of 156,452 metric tons, worth Tk578.9 crore, while the hay harvested will be 246, 643 metric tons worth Tk24.66 crore, reaching a total production value of Tk603.55 crore.