BSS, Dhaka
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Sunday said another 2 lakh farmers affected by the Coronavirus will be given an incentive of Taka 292 crore.
“Another 2 lakh farmers will be given an incentive of Tk 292 crore. It is being sorted out. This is not a loan. This assistance is being provided so that small marginal farmers can turn around,” he said.
The minister said this while exchanging views with journalists on the activities undertaken by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock in the corona crisis and contemporary issues at his office room at the Secretariat in the capital.
Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Raunak Mahmud was present on the occasion.
Besides, cash assistance of Tk 554 crore has been provided to 4 lakh farmers affected by the Corona and natural calamities in the fisheries and livestock sector, Rezaul said.
Terming fish, meat, milk and eggs are very important for human beings, he said during the corona-period, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and its departments are working to meet the nutritional and non-vegetarian needs of the people.
In the first phase of the COVID-19 epidemic, milk, eggs, fish and meat were sold through mobile sales.
Last year, about Taka 9,200 crore worth of goods were sold in the mobile system which was a historic step taken by the government, he said.
It has benefited producers and farms as well as consumers, he added.
At the time, the minister further said, “Although many departments are closed due to the ongoing ban announced by the government in corona, a control room has been set up in the Department of Fisheries and Livestock under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to solve the problems of farmers.”
The activities of the departments and agencies under the Ministry, especially expansion, artificial insemination, vaccination, treatment, provision of counseling services and production and supply of ‘Renu Pona’ fry on government farms, production and distribution of poultry and calves have been continued, he added.
In order to keep the import and export of animal products active, all the labs under this ministry have been kept open and all kinds of testing and inspection activities have been started, he informed.
He added that 80 lakh people are directly and indirectly involved in the fisheries and livestock sector and the ministry is implementing these works so that those people are not harmed in any way and do not become unemployed.
Regarding the corona vaccine, the minister said, “Although the vaccine related problem is a temporary problem, the government is already in the process of importing the vaccine from various countries including the United States, China and Russia.”
He hoped that the country will get the corona vaccine from these countries as soon as possible under the magical leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Rezaul also expressed his gratitude to the media personnel for conveying the free flow of information to all the people at the risk of their lives even in the corona crisis.