Government to introduce crop insurance for farmers: Minister

Food, Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has announced that the government will introduce crop insurance to safeguard farmers from losses caused by natural disasters.

Farmers will be compensated through insurance if crops are damaged by floods or other calamities, aiming to prevent severe financial hardship. He made these remarks on Wednesday at a rice distribution event under the Food-Friendly Programme at Shyampur High School field in Amratali union, Adarsha Sadar upazila, Cumilla. The event was organised by the upazila administration and the upazila food controller's office.

The minister stated that the government is committed to fulfilling its pre-election pledges. Citing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he noted that while many believed those promises would remain unfulfilled, implementation began promptly after the new administration assumed office. He added that the BNP continues to demonstrate its resolve to transform commitments into tangible outcomes.

He added that initiatives such as family cards, farmer cards, and honorarium allowances for imams and muezzins have already been launched. While these measures initially faced criticism, they are now being implemented in practice.

Describing agriculture as the backbone of the national economy, Amin Ur Rashid emphasised that a large proportion of the population is directly engaged in the sector, making farmers' financial security a key government priority. He said that the introduction of crop insurance, alongside current support programmes, would mitigate farmers' exposure to losses from natural disasters.

The minister further stated that the government has already introduced several measures to enhance farmers' financial resilience, including incentives, direct assistance, and easier access to agricultural loans. He indicated that such initiatives would be expanded in the future. On food security, he assured that the country has adequate food reserves to meet demand in the coming months and that the government is working to ensure no one faces a food shortage.

Speakers at the event included Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Md Reza Hasan and District Food Controller Nityananda Kundu. Adarsha Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fatema Tuz Johora presided over the programme. Local BNP leaders—including Cumilla district BNP Joint General Secretary Nazrul Haque Bhuiyan Swapan, Adarsha Sadar upazila BNP President Rezaul Karim, General Secretary Shafiul Alam Raihan, and city BNP leader Nizam Uddin Qaiser—were also in attendance. The deputy commissioner's current posting in Cumilla has been widely reported.

Following the programme, 1,879 beneficiaries in Amratali union each received 30kg of rice under the Food-Friendly Programme.