The government of Bangladesh has announced financial assistance for farmers in the haor regions who have been affected by recent agricultural losses, with support packages starting from Tk7,500, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid said on Monday.
Speaking to journalists after the third session of the second day of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, the minister confirmed that a detailed list of impacted farmers is currently being prepared for distribution of aid.
He said the amount of assistance may vary depending on the level of damage suffered by individual farmers, with some recipients eligible to receive more than the minimum Tk7,500 support. The financial aid programme is expected to continue for a period of three months.
The announcement came amid discussions at the conference where deputy commissioners raised concerns about market challenges in the agricultural sector. Despite a record or bumper potato harvest, farmers are reportedly not receiving fair prices due to inadequate storage facilities and weak distribution and marketing systems. Officials stressed the need for long-term structural improvements to stabilise farm income.
In response, the agriculture minister said the government is working on plans to expand potato markets and increase export opportunities to help address the pricing crisis and improve farmer earnings.
The minister also addressed concerns related to the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha cattle market, assuring that there is no shortage of sacrificial animals in the country.
He stated that supply remains balanced, with neither a deficit nor a surplus expected this year.
He further added that there is no possibility of cattle being imported illegally through border routes, reinforcing the government’s monitoring measures ahead of the festival period.
