The agriculture department has been working relentlessly to deal with the post-coronavirus situation in Kishoreganj with helping farmers plant crops across the district.
Amid the prevailing crisis, officials were seen distributing subsidised Aush seeds and fertilizers to the farmers, advising the latter on crops cultivation and pest control, and preparing the list of farmers for procuring paddy.
They were even seen ploughing fields, cultivating vegetables in fallow lands, planting fruit trees near ponds, and ginger and turmeric in shades.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Saiful Hasan Alamin said that all kinds of services are being provided to the farmers not only for crop production, but also for getting fair price for the products as well as ensuring hassle-free transpirations of agricultural inputs.
Siraj Uddin, a farmer from Khama village in Angiyadi block of Pakundia upazila, said they can easily collect agricultural inputs as fertilizer and pesticide shops are open.
“We too have collected Aush seeds and fertilizers from the Union Parishad and have no hassle in transporting these,” he added. In Daurit village, farmers were seen sowing Aush seeds after officials advised them to prepared seedbeds and replant it on the same day.
In Adityapasha village, one Rafiqul Islam was seen readying the layout of his vegetable garden on his homestead. Talking to Bangladesh Post, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Mohammad Hamimul Haque Sohag said they continued to advise farmers at the field level to implement of "Keep" initiative.
Under the initiative, fallow land under cultivation is being occupied to produce crops and it helps farmer harvest easily in the next time. Besides, farmers use smartphones and make video calls directly from their land to seek advice from the agriculture officials.
“Not an inch of land will remain uncultivated as per the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and We hope it will help us deal with the food situation in the next time,” said Shamsul Alam, Deputy Director at Department of Agricultural Extension of Kishoreganj.