Govt to find real farmers for subsidy

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The government yesterday directed the deputy commissioners (DCs) to take steps to ensure that farmers are not harassed during Boro procurement and they get quick payment for their produce.

On the second day of the three-day annual conference in the city, the DCs were also asked to prepare a list of “real farmers” to begin distribution of Tk 750 crore in diesel subsidies this month.

About concerns that executive magistrates are having difficulty discharging some of their duties including running mobile courts after separation of the judiciary, the government told the district administrators that if necessary the Code of Criminal Procedure could be amended “without affecting the separation”.

Addressing the DCs at the Bangabhaban, President Iajuddin Ahmed said they must play a more active role in keeping the prices of essentials within the reach of common people. He also stressed the need for proper implementation of vulnerable group development (VGD) and vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programmes alongside the open market sale (OMS).

The president said containing price spiral is the biggest challenge facing the government at this moment, and the local administration must strive to make life easier for those from low- and middle-income brackets through constant monitoring of markets.

The day’s programmes began at the cabinet division of the secretariat with a working session on agriculture and water resources. There, participants said the farmers rarely get fair price for their crops. Many of the farming community are having trouble getting loans because of “irregularities and corruption at the field level”.

A divisional commissioner urged the government to take measures to stop inflow of low-quality seeds from across the border.

Agriculture Adviser CS Karim called on all to work towards an end to farmers being harassed by the middlemen. He asked them to have 9,000 IPM (integrated pest management) clubs registered to ensure smarter and reduced use of pesticides.

He said: “We have asked the DCs to give us a list of real farmers so that we can start distributing diesel subsidies this month.”

The government has arranged small-interest loans for farmers, but many of them are still unaware of it, Karim said, adding that the DCs should move to inform farmers about the special agri-loan at two percent interest.

Food and Disaster Management Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali spoke at the session on food, disaster management, and health and family welfare issues.

Replying to a query, he said, “I’ve asked them to ensure that farmers get their payment quickly since it has to be done through banks.”

He said the target of Boro procurement this season is 10 lakh tonnes and the administration has already initiated the process of floating procurement tender.

The adviser said the procurement price of Boro this season might be fixed at the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee’s meeting next week.

Cautioning against misappropriation of funds [Tk 100-crore] granted for employment generation programme for the ultra poor, Shawkat said, “There are many reports of funds being appropriated in the past. I have asked the DCs to ensure that each individual gets no less than Tk 150 a day as planned.”

During the session on law, land and religious affairs, the participants urged the government to take steps to remove the “legal barriers” that the executive magistrates face in maintaining law and order.

Law Adviser Hassan Ariff said after the separation of judiciary, the magistrates are having problem running mobile courts and performing other functions due to absence of law or vague legal provisions.

“They have submitted some suggestions in writing. If needed, the CrPC can be amended without affecting the separation to let the magistrates carry out their duties to maintain law and order,” he said.

For proper management of the state’s cases, the government will appoint attorney to work at upazila level once the attorney law is enacted, he said.

He directed the DCs to ensure the land rights of the indigenous groups.

Later, three more sessions–one on issues concerning local government and rural development and cooperatives, labour and employment, textile and jute, another on communications, housing and public works and the last on information– were held.

The conference concludes today.

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