The government announced Sunday a Tk 239 million rehabilitation programme to help the flood-affected farmers to recoup their financial losses.
Under the programme some 205,015 farmers in 25 districts will get seeds and fertilisers free of cost.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury announced the incentive packages at a press briefing at the conference room of her ministry on the day.
"We will provide seeds and fertilisers to 205,015 farmers free of cost," she said.
The farmers who have been affected due to flash floods in the northern and southern districts will get agriculture inputs from the government, she added.
She said the assistance of agricultural inputs to the farmers in the northern districts will be considered 'rehabilitation' while it will be 'incentive' for the farmers of southern districts.
She said some 234,837 tonnes of agricultural produce on 89,092 hectares of lands have been damaged that caused financial losses to the tune of Tk 6.95 billion to the farmers. They will get seeds and fertilisers free of cost.
"We will provide seeds of rice, wheat, maize, mustard, grass pea and fertilisers to the farmers," she said.
Under the initiative, some 15,778 tonnes of Boro rice, 33,069 tonnes of wheat, 23,558 tonnes of maize, 3,456 tonnes of mustard and 1,792 tonnes of grass pea are expected to be produced.
She said 86,475 farmers of Tangail, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrakona, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Bogra, Sirajganj, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts will get the government assistance.
On the other hand, 118,540 farmers of Jessore, Narail, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barisal, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola and Gopalganj districts will be entitled to the same benefits.
"We (government) are with the farmers," she said calling upon all not to belittle the farmers as they provide us with food.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
