Flood-hit farmers to receive aid after union, ward-level assessments
The government is preparing union- and ward-level lists of farmers affected by the recent floods nationwide before distributing targeted rehabilitation assistance, Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid said today.
Authorities will provide support after ongoing damage assessments are complete, the minister told journalists following the inauguration of a week-long tree plantation campaign and fair at Cumilla Town Hall grounds today.
The minister said local administrations are collecting information on agricultural losses in accordance with the prime minister's instructions.
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"The government will provide all necessary support to help affected farmers recover and resume agricultural activities without delay," he said.
On the nationwide tree plantation campaign, the minister said the prime minister is monitoring progress to prevent irregularities and mismanagement.
He reiterated the government's commitment to making Bangladesh cleaner, greener and free from pollution.
The minister also outlined plans to establish mini cold-storage facilities nationwide to reduce post-harvest losses and protect farmers from sharp price fluctuations.
The government aims to set up 2,000 mini cold storages in the next one to two years, with pilot facilities already proving the model's viability. These cold storages are intended to help farmers preserve perishable produce and secure fairer prices.
The minister said about 70–75 per cent of Bangladesh's population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture. Improving farmers' livelihoods, ensuring fair prices, and making farming more profitable remain government priorities, he added.
Cumilla City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu, Deputy Commissioner Rosy Akter, Cumilla Social Forest Division Divisional Forest Officer Md Ruhul Amin, and Superintendent of Police Anisuzzaman attended the inaugural ceremony, along with other government officials and political leaders.
Earlier, the minister joined a rally marking the fair's opening and visited stalls displaying fruit, forest,, and medicinal saplings.
