The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Netrakona

Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury today said the government has already taken necessary steps for importing rice to ensure sufficient food stocks in the country.

Dr. Chowdhury said this while addressing a meeting of the district level officers in the conference room at Netrakona Circuit House here.

Despite the onslaughts of natural calamities like repeated floods and the devastating cyclone Sidr, the country will not face any food crisis, he said

The meeting, among others, discussed the post-flood rehabilitation programme of the district, food stock position, Boro cultivation and fertiliser distribution.

Commanding officer of Netrakona Army Camp Lt.Col. Nakib Ahmed Chowdhury, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Muhammad Mujaheed Hussain, among others, participated in the discussion.

The adviser stressed the need for the expansion of Boro cultivation programme especially planting the hybrid variety of paddy in all fallow lands. He said that food deficit could be reduced to a large extent with an increase in the Boro cultivation by three percent than the previous year.

Reviewing the post-flood agriculture rehabilitation programme and fertiliser distribution in the district, the foreign adviser directed the concerned officials to closely monitor the rehabilitation programme and fertiliser distribution process.

Earlier, it was informed that a massive Boro paddy cultivation programme has been undertaken in the district to bring 1,39,000 hectares of land under paddy cultivation with a target for producing 5.5 lakh metric tons of Boro paddy.

The meeting was also informed that the district has a stock of 10,700 tons of fertilizer, which is sufficient for Boro cultivation in the district.