Farmers joint 'dialogue' on agri-budget

A farmer asking a question during a dialogue on Agriculture Budget, Farmers' Budget, held in Manikganj on Wednesday. It was organised by Channel I

Similar programmes will be held in other parts of the country under the TV channel’s Rhidoye Mati-o-Manush programme.

Shaikh Siraj of Channel I conducted the Manikganj programme, held on Wednesday. Economist Hossain Zillur Rahman was also present. It was attended by over 500 farmers.

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Manikganj additional deputy commissioner (General) (ADC) Mustafizur Rahman, Agrculture Extension Department deputy director (DD) Abul Khair, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Belal Hossain, agricultural officer (AO) Mohammad Ali, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) Irrigation Department assistant engineer (AE) Rafiqul Islam, Seed Marketing Department assistant director (AD) Goutam Kumar Kundu, Garpara UP chairman Alema Begum, Fertiliser Dealer Association president Jamilur Rashid Khan and Deep Tubewell Association president Abul Kashem took part.

The two-hour programme was hampered due to foul weather. Almost all the farmers present at the programme candidly confessed that they had no clear cut idea about budget.

They mentioned various problems they are facing in cultivation of crops. It was revealed in the discussion that the annual fund earmarked for agriculture in the budget does not reach the farmers. Fertiliser dealers, deep tube-well owners and seed dealers are the direct beneficiaries of government subsidy.

BADC can fulfil only five per cent annual requirement of seeds while its seed distribution activities are limited only at the upazila level. There is no infrastructure for seed distribution at union and village levels.

Farmers face various problems in receiving agricultural loan. Farmers expressed similar opinion in organising themselves in one platform so that the fruits of official subsidy can reach them.