Tk 4.32b project to boost agricultural production
Posted : 25 Jan, 2014
In a bid to boost agricultural production and increase income of the countries rural farmers, an initiative has been taken to impart training to around 1.0 million male and female farmers on integrated farm management to create employment opportunities through establishing some 20,000 farmers’ field schools, reports UNB.
The initiative is also aimed at creating farmers organisations as well as links among different service providing agencies, market controllers and small investment firms.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has recently approved a Tk 4.32 billion project, titled ‘Integrated Farm Management Component, Agriculture Production and Employment Programme’.
Of the total amount, Tk 1.08 billion will come from the government exchequer while Tk 3.24 billion as project assistance from DANIDA. The financing agreement in this regard between Denmark and Bangladesh was signed on June 27, 2013.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture will implement the project at 373 upazilas in 61 districts except the three districts of CHT region. The project is expected to be completed by June 2018.
The main objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of male and female family members of landless, small and marginal farmers in a bid to boost agricultural production, a Planning Ministry official told the news agency.
The project has been undertaken in line with the National Agriculture Policy and New Agriculture Extension Policy.
The official said that to implement the project, some 2,000 farmers’ trainers and some 1,800 divisional trainers will be imparted training alongside providing orientation to 1,500 divisional officials to inspect and monitor the activities of the farmers’ field schools.
Once the project is completed, newer employment opportunities will be created for the rural male and female family members of farmers while their annual income will also increase.
Besides, some 3,500 field-level divisional officials will be given trainers’ training on ‘Operating business on agricultural produces through farmers’ organisations’.
The project will have provision for conducting mid-term and final survey to evaluate the outcomes while the implementation process will be continuously monitored. Besides, the research initiatives will be given due importance to look for time-befitting technology for the farmers.
Source:http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2014/01/25/15445