Welfare agricultural management for farming and farmers stressed

Welfare agricultural management for farming and farmers stressed

Farmer leaders in a human chain cum roadside rally here today called upon the interim government to develop a welfare agricultural management for agriculture and farmers like developed countries. They asked for initiatives to purchase agricultural products from farmers, store in warehouses, if necessary, export abroad and develop infrastructure for preservation to ensure food security by making farm activities profitable. They made the call from the roadside rally organized by Krishak Oikya Parishad, Bangladesh (KOPB) at Press Club premises here today on the fourth day of their week-long long march from Bogra to Panchagarh with ten-point demands. Moniruzzaman Talukder, Rangpur District President of KOPB, a non-political farmers organisation, presided over the event. Chairman of KOPB Krishibid Manjur Alam, its Secretary General Sultan Hossain, Organizing Secretary Dr Nazrul Islam, Agricultural Affairs Secretary Shahabuddin Farazi and Office Secretary Maksudur Rahman Khan addressed the event. In addition, Kurigram District President of KOPB Masudur Rahman Jalal, its Lalmonirhat District President Rezaul Karim, Rangpur District Joint General Secretary Shamim Hasan, Kawnia Upazila President Arif Azad, among others, spoke. The farmer leaders said that although the agricultural sector is the backbone of the countrys economy, farmers are suffering and incurring losses today for various reasons. This time, they gave the example of potatoes produced, saying that since it is not possible to recover the cost of potato production, the current interim government must play an active role in saving farmers from any crop loss in the future. In addition, the powerful business syndicate is there like a blow to farmers on the ground. They said farmers are struggling to survive with the negative effects of extreme drought and excessive rain. They also have to fight with sudden floods due to the unwanted water flow of the neighboring country. Every year, agricultural production is often disrupted due to natural disasters. Farmers are suffering huge losses. Marginal and small farmers are especially facing financial disaster. In his concluding speech, Moniruzzaman Talukder stressed the need to develop agricultural management that is beneficial for agriculture and farmers in the country like in the developed world to deal with these risks. The 10-point demand include formation of Potato and Onion Commission and establishment of upazila-based storage and export centers, establishment of farmers markets throughout the country, simplification of agricultural loans and incentives, ensuring fair prices for agricultural products produced by freeing farmers from syndicates, stopping extortion and toll system in the transport of agricultural products and allocating railway coaches, introducing special allowances for farmers including allocation of khas and fallow land, providing agricultural insurance and financial assistance system by the government, ensuring provision of special medical services to farmers at 50 percent discount in government and private hospitals, including farmer representatives in various committees including the National Assembly and providing modern agricultural technology and making it practical.