Rising heavy metals in farmland threaten food security: Agri minister

Agricultural land across the country is facing declining fertility due to rising levels of heavy metals, posing a risk to food security, said Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Livestock Minister Aminur Rashid Yasin. 

Speaking at an exchange meeting with officials at the Cumilla Circuit House today (20 February), the minister said the government has already made plans to address the growing contamination in agricultural soils.

"The increase of heavy metals in farmland is reducing soil productivity and putting food security at risk. We are formulating and implementing measures to tackle the issue," he stated.

He also announced a zero-tolerance policy to prevent soil extraction from the chars of the Gomti River.

"From today, not even an inch of soil will be allowed to be cut from the Gomti," he warned.

The meeting was chaired by Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Md Reza Hasan. Among others present were Superintendent of Police Asaduzzaman, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Md Abdur Rouf, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Abu Sufian, Director Shamsul Alam, Director of the Chattogram Regional Food Control Office SM Qaiser Ali, and other divisional and district-level officials.

Aminur Rashid Yasin previously served as convener of Cumilla South District BNP and is an adviser to the party chairperson of BNP.