Change crop pattern, expand microcredit to avoid monga
This was suggested at a day-long open discussion on 'Causes of Monga and Remedies', organized by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC). It was held at its Rangpur training centre on Monday.
State Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister-in-Charge for Rangpur Alamgir Kabir and State Minister for Agriculture Mirza Faqrul Islam were special guests at the discussion.
The discussants included Director General of Agriculture Extension Department (AED) Md Tarique Hasan, its Deputy Director Ainul Hoque and Rangpur BNP Secretary Mozaffor Hossen.
The monga (lack of work before crop harvest) situation prevails in the eight northern districts during the Bangla months of Aswin and Kartik as the percentage of landless people and marginal farmers are increasing with limited employment scope outside agriculture, said Ainul Hoque in his keynote paper.
He said 29 per cent of people in the region are landless and 28 per cent marginal farmers. Erosion of land by Teesta, Dharla, Brhamma-putra, Korotoa, Ghagot, Katakhali, Atrai, Punarvhaba, and Tongon rivers is one of the causes for shrinking land holdings, particularly in shoals and riverside areas.
He suggested cultivation of BR-33 and BR-39 varieties of paddy and early varieties of vegetables.
State Minister Alamgir Kabir said AED and other government agriculture departments can play a vital role in motivating small farmers in cultivating short-duration crops including vegetables.
He also stressed the need for expansion of micro credit. The government has allocated Tk 345 crore for micro-credit in the proposed budget for fiscal 2004-2005 for poverty alleviation.
He said the government will take early steps like distribution of VGF cards and relief before monga this year.
State Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged agriculture officials to motivate farmers to change cropping to avoid monga.
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