The Adviser to the Food Ministry, Ali Imam Majumdar, said the government has sufficient food grains in stock and there is no fear about food security.

He made this statement at a meeting with agricultural farmers in Ashtagram, Haor Upazila, Kishoreganj on Saturday.

The food adviser said that the government has imported food grains to compensate for the damage caused to Aman rice in the last flood. And this time, there will be a bumper harvest of Boro rice across the country, including the haors.

“If everything goes well, the country will have a food surplus. The government is making relentless efforts to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their crops,” he added.

He further said, “Farmers are the frontline soldiers of development. If they are well, the country will be well. The crops they produce, working hard, provide food for our vast population.”

The government is working to address the irrigation problems of haors, prevent the trend of illegally drying up canals under the pretext of fishing, ensure the availability of fertilisers and seeds, preserve crops and ensure fair prices for them, he added.

Regarding the drying up of canals and rivers, the adviser said, “Big rivers including the Meghna are suffering from a navigability crisis. It is possible to dig canals locally through the canal digging programme. And the government is making efforts to dig big rivers.”

He said that farmers in the haor area are now involved in various economic activities including rice, maize, vegetable cultivation, and poultry and fish farming. The haor is a township with huge potential.

The government is working extensively for the socio-economic development of the haor, including its communication system, he added.

During this time, several farmers spoke about their irrigation problems, road problems, and lack of drinking water. The adviser asked the deputy commissioner to resolve these issues quickly.

Superintendent of Police, Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury, Agriculture Officer of Ashtagram, Abhijit Sarkar, and others were present at the farmers’ rally chaired by Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Khan and moderated by Ashtagram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Dilshad Jahan.

Later, the adviser visited various Boro lands of the haor.