FAO starts distribution of farm inputs among cyclone victims
“Farmers in the south need more support with modern technologies to restore their livelihood after the devastations of cyclones Sidr and Aila”, said Ad Spijkers, FAO Representative in Bangladesh in Kathalia upazila in Jhalokathi district on Friday.
Spijkers was visiting the area after FAO launched the distribution of agricultural inputs among affected farmers under the World Bank funded Emergency 2007 Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project (ECRRP), says a press release.
“Support in crops, fisheries and livestock will be provided over the next 4 years”, declared the FAO chief.
A FAO mission visited the Sidr victims as the first round inputs distribution with horticultural packages among 8008 beneficiaries began 3 days ago.
FAO is supporting the rehabilitation programme in 13 upazilas in the south. The field mission was accompanied by relevant government and FAO officials.
“We should exploit the enormous potentials of the south in boosting farm production despite the vulnerability of climate change and recurrent natural disasters”, observed Spijkers.
“We can do it by introducing stress tolerant improved seeds and modern machines like power tillers and irrigation pumps, promoting balanced use of fertilisers and other inputs, augmenting surface water irrigation, and providing the farmers and fishers with training on modern technologies and best practices through Farmers Field Schools”, he said explaining the various interventions under the ECRRP project.
“We have supported 1.4 million farmers after Sidr and Aila with emergency inputs for crop, fisheries and livestock with support from the development partners”, Spijkers added during a briefing to the local people, officials and the media in Kathalia.
He also mentioned that 12 southern districts will be covered under a recent EU funding support in crops, fisheries and livestock sectors among the most vulnerable people.
“The government is exploring the opportunities for investment in the southern delta to attain sustainable food security for the country and introducing the modern technologies and practices could be the means to achieve the goals”, Ad Spijkers told the meeting.
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