2.1 lakh farmers to get Tk 30.21cr for Aus production

The government will provide Tk 30.21 crore to 2.10 lakh farmers in 48 districts as incentives to boost Aus rice production during the upcoming season that begins in early May.
The farmers will get the incentives in the form of inputs--seeds, urea, muriate of potash (MoP) and diammonium of phosphate (DAP) in the next 10 days, said Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury at a press briefing at the ministry. 
Asked about compensation to the farmers who faced losses due to blockades and hartals, Matia said the government will take measures if necessary.
The farmers from recent tornado and hail-storm hit 21 districts, northern, central parts and Barind region as well as 12 Aus rice producing southern districts will be brought under the stimulus package.
Some 20,000 heactares of paddy fields have been damaged by the storms recently, she said. 
Of the Tk 30.21 crore, 1.8 lakh farmers will get seeds and fertiliser of Tk 1,350 each for growing high-yielding varieties of Aus, while 30,000 farmers seeds and fertiliser of Tk 1,970 each for producing Nerica, a drought-tolerant hybrid rice variety, said the minister. She said Nerica which has been proved successful in the country grows in 96 to 100 days whereas local high yielding varieties takes nearly 120 days.
"We expect additional production of 70,000 metric tonnes of rice plus straw worth Tk 231 crore," she said.