The government is planning to adopt a programme under National Skill Council for increasing skill and labour capacity of farmers.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu said this while speaking at discussion meeting organised by Karmajibi Nari (KN), a women organisation of working women, in association with Oxfam in the city on Thursday, reports BSS.
The meeting was organised as part of the national campaign in preserving rights of women farmers in food security.
"We have done many things for the welfare of farmers but so far nominal efforts have been taken for their skill development. So, as per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina we are planning to take a programme to increase the skill level of the farmers," he said.
The state minister said the country's farmers including male and female have been contributing immensely in increasing food production as well as ensuring food security.
"But so far, they gained their agricultural skilled indigenously as well as by their own efforts.
Presently, the government is feeling that there should be a state initiative to increase the farmer's skills," he said.
In some cases, Mr Chunnu said the farmers do not get proper price of their crops during the seasons, especially the vegetable growers. "Some initiatives need to be taken from the government side to ensure that farmers will get actual price of their crops round the year," he said.
The state minister said the agriculture ministry sometimes cannot able to purchase enough crops due to scarcity of godowns.
"In this case, the government can rent the private godowns, owned by big farmers. In one hand it will safeguard the food security, on the other it will ensure proper crop price for the farmers," he said.
He also urged the authorities concerned and labour organisations to highlight the contribution of farmers when celebrate the International Labour Day.
Speaking at the meeting, the other speakers said only four per cent of the country's women farmers have their own land and usually the females are getting 41 per cent less agriculture wage than their male counterparts.
The women farmers are not getting government subsidy on fertiliser and cash incentive due to not owning the lands, they mentioned.
