Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, ‘Our golden Bangladesh will be the address of nutrition and safe food. I assure you that in the journey of commercial transformation of the existing agriculture, the research and expansion of agriculture and the policy support and incentives of the government will be in favor of the profession.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this in a message on the occasion of ‘Krishibid Day-2021’ on Saturday (February 13).

Sheikh Hasina said, ‘Food security comes with the prosperity of agriculture. Only by winning the struggle against hunger and poverty does one have the courage to embark on the highway of development. The fair of mega projects for the development of a self-respecting nation.

Welcoming the initiative of publishing a special supplement on the occasion of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Krishibid Day, he said, “On Krishibid Day, I extend my sincere greetings to all the agriculturists, farmers and all those associated with agriculture in the country.”

The Prime Minister further said, “The combined efforts of farmers and agriculturists in the present government’s agricultural policy and incentives are contributing to the achievement of self-sufficiency in our food. In a country with a high population density, the ever-increasing agricultural production from declining land is a surprise to the world. The farmers and agriculturists of Bengal have kept the value of that historic declaration of Bangabandhu.

The Prime Minister said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced on February 13, 1973 to give first class status to agriculturists with the aim of achieving maximum success in the agricultural sector. Which was a historic milestone for agriculture, farmers and agronomists of this country. As a result, more meritorious students are becoming interested in agricultural education. Continuing that policy of Bangabandhu, the present Awami League government is following the agri-friendly policy.

He said the Awami League government has given the opportunity to farmers to open bank accounts at Tk 10. At present there are about one crore bank accounts. About 21 million farmer materials cards have been issued to the farmers. Arrangements have been made to provide unsecured agricultural loans to the sharecroppers. Since 2009, an incentive of Tk 1,402.59 crore has been given.

Mentioning that 17 farmers had to give their lives for fertilizer during BNP-Jamaat, Sheikh Hasina said, “We have reduced the price of fertilizer several times.” Irrigation electricity bill is being given 20 percent rebate. From 2009 to 2020, development assistance of Tk. 85,615 crore has been provided to fertilizers, power and sugarcane.

He further said that a total of one crore 40 lakh 36 family nutrition gardens have been set up in each union to create nutrition and source of income for the farmers.

‘Farmers’ markets’ have been set up in 41 districts, including the capital, to ensure safe supply of vegetables and fair prices to farmers. About 60,000 agricultural implements were supplied in 12 years, including state-of-the-art combine harvesters, reapers, cedars, power tillers and other agricultural implements.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is currently ranked third in the world in rice production, third in vegetable production, seventh in mango production, seventh in potato production and eighth in guava production.

Today, Bangladesh has set an example in the world in rice, jute, jackfruit, mango, guava and potato and vegetable and fish production. In 2009, the production of food grains was three crore 36 lakh 33 thousand metric tons. At present, the production of food grains has increased to four crore 53 lakh 44 thousand metric tons.

The Prime Minister expressed the hope that all the programs organized on Krishibid Day would be filled with success.