Crop insurance on card: Minister

CUMILLA, Mar 18 (BSS): Minister for Food, Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government has taken initiatives to introduce Crop Insurance to protect farmers' from natural disasters.

"If crops are damaged due to floods or natural disasters, farmers will be compensated through insurance to mitigate financial loss," he said.

The minister said this while distribution rice among poor at Shyampur High School grounds in Amratoli Union of Adarsh Sadar Upazila on Wednesday.

The programme was organised by the Upazila Administration and the Upazila Food Controller Office under the Food Ministry's food-friendly programme.

Some 30 kg of rice was distributed to each of the 1,879 beneficiaries of Amratoli Union under the programme.

Referring to the BNP's electoral pledges, the minister said the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working constantly to implement all electoral pledges gradually.

Noting that BNP is the party of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and late popular Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, he said, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is pledged bound to implements what BNP has promised before the election.

"Initiatives have already been taken to implement the promises including family cards, farmer cards and honorariums for imams and muezzins," he mentioned.

Stating that the agriculture is the backbone of country's economy, the minister said the government has given priority to the financial security of farmers and, if crop insurance can be introduced, the risk of losses due to natural disasters will be greatly reduced.

Amin Ur Rashid also said the government has already taken various steps to increase the financial capacity of farmers while farmers are being supported by incentives, assistance and facilitating credit facilities in the agricultural sector.

Regarding food security, the minister said there is sufficient food stock in the country and it would be possible to meet the needs of next few months.

"The government is working to ensure that none will face food crisis," he added.

Cumilla Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Reza Hasan and District Food Controller Nityananda Kundu spoke as the special guests at the event.

District BNP Joint General Secretary Nazrul Haque Bhuiyan Swapan, Adarsh Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fatema Tuz Johra, Adarsh Sadar Upazila BNP President Rezaul Karim, General Secretary Shafiul Alam Raihan and Metropolitan BNP leader Nizam Uddin Kaiser were also present on the occasion.