NCC Bank Gives Free Seeds, Fertiliser and Pesticides to 3,000 Marginal Farmers in Bogura

NCC Bank PLC has distributed free agricultural inputs among 3,000 marginal farmers in Bogura, in a drive aimed at raising farm production, improving farmers' financial capacity and strengthening the country's food security. The distribution took place recently in the Bagbari, Padmapara and Mahasthangarh areas of the district under a special CSR programme.

The inputs handed out included vegetable seeds of various kinds, mustard seed, different types of fertiliser and pesticides. Organisers said receiving these materials at the start of the season would ease some of the production-cost pressure on farmers.

At a ceremony held at Government Shahid Zia Degree College in Bagbari, Gabtali, Bogura-7 lawmaker Morshed Milton attended as chief guest and handed the inputs to farmers. NCC Bank chairman Mohammad Nurun Newaz Selim was the guest of honour.

The programme was chaired by Bogura deputy commissioner Md Toufiqur Rahman. Also present were the bank's vice-chairman Engineer Abdus Salam, executive committee chairman Khairul Alam Chaklader, managing director M. Shamsul Arefin and additional managing director Md Zakir Anam.

Rural Development Academy director general Dr Md Abdul Majid Pramanik, Department of Agricultural Extension deputy director Sohel Md Shamsuddin Firoz and Gabtali upazila nirbahi officer Mohammad Hafizur Rahman also attended, along with senior bank and administration officials, local public representatives and community figures.

Chief guest Morshed Milton praised NCC Bank's initiative for farmers' welfare. He said supporting marginal farmers with inputs and assistance to raise their production capacity would play a positive role in increasing local agriculture and food production.

He referred to various steps taken by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for farmers' development and stressed maintaining the continuity of such initiatives. He also thanked the NCC Bank authorities for standing beside farmers.

Bank chairman Mohammad Nurun Newaz Selim said NCC Bank does not work only to earn profit; as part of its social responsibility, it has also been playing an important role in the socio-economic development of the country's people. In his words, agriculture is one of the main driving forces of Bangladesh's economy.

He said that, responding to the prime minister's call to increase agricultural production, the bank had distributed free seeds, fertiliser and pesticides among farmers in Bogura district. There were also plans to distribute inputs among marginal farmers in other districts in future, he said.

The chairman added that the bank also planned to help expand storage facilities for farm produce and the use of modern agricultural technology. The support, therefore, was not limited to distributing inputs, but extended to the stages that follow production.

Managing director M. Shamsul Arefin said NCC Bank continued to take various initiatives to ensure the country's food security and support higher agricultural production. This distribution programme was part of that continuing effort.

The support comes at a time when the prices of fertiliser, seed and pesticides make up a large share of farmers' production costs. With 3,000 farmers benefiting directly, organisers expect the coming season's cultivation in Bagbari, Padmapara and Mahasthangarh to feel the impact.

Attention will now turn to whether, as announced, the programme expands to other districts, and when the promised support for storage and modern technology reaches farmers on the ground.