The much-awaited subsidy on diesel for the farmers was launched Monday with an expectation that the subsequent governments would continue with the support, reports UNB.

"This government is with you (Farmers), We''ll do our best for you," Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam told the launching ceremony of the first such subsidy directly handed over to the farmers in Manikganj.

He joined the farmers in celebrating the Bengali New Year that coincided with the subsidy distribution saying ''Shuvo Nababarsha''. Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim, DAE DG Mohammed Shamsul Alam and FAO country director Adspizkers also spoke on the occasion with Manikganj DC Mohammed Ataur Rahman in the chair.

The Finance Adviser distributed the subsidy, Tk 545 per acre, among 315 out of 1,39,890 farmers eligible for the subsidy. A farmer having not more than 2.5 acres of boro land of his own and sharecropping land, is entitled to the subsidy.

Agriculture Ministry officials said 67 lakh small and marginal farmers have been identified to be entitled to the subsidy worth a total of Tk 250 crore this season. Allocation letters to this effect have already reached the deputy commissioners of 64 districts.

The government allocated Tk 750 crore in the current budget for diesel subsidy. The Finance Adviser earlier indicated that the rest amount of the allocation would be carried over for the next season.

Dr Aziz said the government is alert to ensure that the subsidy goes to the real farmers, who have been mainly behind the bumper productions of potatoes, oilseeds and wheat, and another expected bumper production of boro ahead. He advised the farmers to form cooperatives among them selves to ensure the fair prices of their produces.

"It''s for the first time in Bangladesh history that the government handed over subsidy to the farmers directly," Agriculture Adviser CS Karim said. The Agriculture Adviser expected that the subsequent governments would also undertake such initiatives of providing subsidy to the farmers directly.

He advised the farmers to utilise the latest technologies to increase food production and called upon them not to leave even an inch of land uncultivated. CS Karim also inaugurated the boro harvest in the district.