DHAKA, March 4, 2024 (BSS)- Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdus Shahid today sought cooperation from the deputy commissioners (DCs) to bring all barren lands under cultivation.

Addressing a session at the Deputy Commissioners Conference in city’ Osmani Smriti auditorium he also urged all to protect agriculture land and resist hoarding of essential goods.

Shahid said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given directives to bring all barren lands under cultivation. According to her directives, steps have already been taken to bring all unused lands of sugar mills, jute mills, textiles mills and railways under cultivation, he said adding the initiative will continue.

Everyone should be careful about misuse of farming land as those are shrinking day by day, he said adding the arable lands producing crops three times a year must be protected.

The minister urged the monitoring committee comprising DCs, UNOs and other government officials to play active role against the dishonest businessmen or organizations to prevent them from creating any artificial crisis during the month of Ramadan.

The minister said a total of 391.02 lakh metric tons rice were produced in 2022-23 fiscal year. Besides, 11.70 lakh metric tons of wheat, 64.31` lakh metric tons of maize,  110.85 metric tons potato, and 225.41 lakh metric tons vegetables were produced in the same year, he said.

Later, the agriculture minister exchanged views with journalists and said quality seeds will be distributed among the farmers.

Later, Dr Shahid held separate meetings with the representatives of International Rice Research Institute and Asia Pacific Association of Agriculture Research Institution.

He also held a meeting with United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Dhaka Abdulla Ali Abdulla Khaseif AlHmoudi at his secretariat office.