RANGPUR, Aug 25, 2017 (BSS) – Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor has called upon the flood-affected farmers to stand around collectively by cultivating late variety Aman rice and other crops with government assistance.
“Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hasina has directed all ministries to stand beside the flood-affected farmers and provide them with all necessary assistance to recoup the crop losses they incurred during recent floods,” he said.
The Minister said this at Mashiur Rahman Degree College ground under Sadar upazila of Nilphamari while distributing of late variety Aman rice seedling among flood-hit farmers on Thursday as the chief guest.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in association with Nilphamari district administration and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) organised the function to launch the government’s post-flood agriculture rehabilitation programme.
Asaduzzaman Noor distributed late variety ‘Binashail’ Aman seedling among 120 flood-affected farmers free of costs for transplantation on one bigha (33 decimals) of land each on the occasion.
The Minister said the extent of damages caused by the floods is less this time for quick recession of floodwater.
“But, the floods have caused damages to the agriculture sector and the government has extended hands of assistance to the affected farmers to stand beside them in recouping the crop losses,” he said.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Nilphamari Golam Md Idris said steps have been taken to distribute late variety Aman rice seedling in phases among 600 flood-affected farmers of all six upazilas in Nilphamari district.
Presided over by Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ibrahim Rahim, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Ibrahim Hossain Khan and Director General (Seed Wing) of the DAE Md Asraf Uddin Ahmed attended and addressed the function as special guests.
Later, Asraf Uddin Ahmed distributed late variety ‘Binashail’ Aman rice seedling among 100 flood-affected farmers at another function held at Kamarpukur Degree College ground under Syedpur upazila of Nilphamari.