Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today stressed the need to promote the use of organic fertilizers, particularly vermicompost, to protect soil health, ensure the judicious use of approved pesticides and maintain transparency in fertilizer distribution.
“Emphasis should be given to cultivating new crops alongside conventional ones to increase and diversify farmers’ incomes,” the Minister said, adding that planned production and effective marketing systems must be ensured to guarantee fair prices and protect farmers from financial losses.
He said genuine farmers would be enlisted and provided with necessary government incentives, including seeds, fertilizers and sacks.
Amin Ur Rashid gave the directives while exchanging views with mango, litchi, ginger, green chilli and tomato farmers and agri-entrepreneurs of Rajshahi Division at the conference room of the Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner on Thursday evening.
At the meeting, the Minister listened to the farmers’ opinions and experiences and outlined the government’s roadmap for agricultural modernisation, ensuring fair prices for farm produce and expanding agricultural exports.
He particularly emphasized expanding ginger cultivation using modern methods, both in soil and in sacks, in vacant spaces between mango orchards.
Regarding the processing and preservation of Rajshahi’s traditional mangoes, the Agriculture Minister said experimental initiatives were underway to extend their shelf life to 45 days initially and up to 90 days in the future with the help of foreign technology.
The meeting was presided over by Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Kazi Mohammad Saiful Islam.
Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Abdur Rahim, Executive Director of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Jahangir Alam Khan and Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam attended the meeting, along with farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and senior agriculture department officials from different districts of the division.
