Cultivate fallow lands for sustainable food security: Razzaque

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque has said fallow lands in harsh hilly terrains as well as lands affected by salinity in char and coastal areas should be brought under cultivation in order to sustain the country’s long-term food security goals.

Emphasising that no land should be left uncultivated, he also added the government has been working tirelessly to bring fallow lands under cultivation.

“All kinds of assistance will be offered to farmers for bringing fallow lands under cultivation,” the minister said at a view-exchange meeting with farmers in Noakhali on Sunday, said a ministry press release.

Razzaque also inspected crop fields at Char Jabbar in Subarnachar upazila.

Addressing the farmers, the minister said, “Our researchers have developed high yielding varieties of Aus paddy. You will plant these short-lived varieties immediately after harvesting Rabi crops.”

While inspecting the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) farms, the minister advised increasing the cultivation of oil crops such as soybean, sunflower and mustard in the fallow lands of the char areas.

He said the production cost is lower and profit is higher in cultivating oil crops.

“BADC is working to develop seeds, fertilisers and irrigation systems in order to lend the necessary technology and support to farmers,” he added.

Pointing out that salinity was one of the major problems in coastal areas, the minister stressed the cultivation of salt-tolerant crops.

“Gourd, bean, watermelon, sunflower, sweet potato, and soybean grow well in saline soil. These crops should be incorporated into the cropping pattern, and all land in the char areas should be cultivated,” the minister added.