Minister Ariful Haque urges farmer-led agricultural planning, distributes rehabilitation inputs, and donates ECG machine in Jaintapur. Photo : PID

SYLHET, June 26, 2026 (BSS) - Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has directed that development planning in the agriculture sector should be based on practical data and that farmers must be involved in the process to ensure faster resolution of their problems.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a distribution programme of agricultural inputs held at the Jaintapur Upazila Parishad auditorium today.

The minister said farmers should be directly involved in planning based on their needs.

He stressed the need for regular communication with farmers, awareness programmes and engagement of local representatives to identify crop-based problems and potential solutions.

He further said that block supervisors in each union must prepare separate reports identifying soil conditions, drainage systems, suitable crops, farmers' demands and possible areas of support from the Ministry of Agriculture.

He instructed that locally solvable problems should be resolved promptly and issues requiring additional support should be forwarded to higher authorities through the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

The minister also emphasised the importance of organising courtyard meetings and consultation sessions at the field level to raise awareness among farmers about modern agricultural technology, vegetable and fruit cultivation, and safe farming practices.

At the meeting, instructions were also given to prepare detailed reports on the overall situation of the poultry and dairy sectors in the upazila, including vaccine supply, livestock services, and the activities of relevant officials.

The minister called upon government officials and employees to perform their duties sincerely and play a more active, coordinated and people-oriented role in the development of the agriculture and livestock sectors.

Under the agricultural rehabilitation assistance programme, various inputs were distributed among farmers of Jaintapur upazila.

Under the programme, around 1,800 farmers received Aman rice seeds and fertiliser, 500 farmers received summer vegetable seeds and fertiliser, 30 farmers received lemon saplings, 30 farmers received summer aubergine seeds and 50 farmers received chilli seeds. 

In addition, 74 farmers and 38 educational institutions received saplings.
The programme was presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sunanda Rani. 

Among others, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Mohammad Shamsul Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner Masud Rana and General Secretary of Jaintapur Upazila BNP Md. Abdul Hafiz, along with government and private officials, local representatives and journalists, were present.

Earlier, the minister handed over an ECG machine to Jaintapur Upazila Health Complex and inspected the overall activities of the hospital.