Dhaka, Dec. 12 -- A vast tracts of uncultivated land in Chattogram region are set to be brought under productive use as the government has launched a major agricultural project aimed at raising crop output and strengthening food security.

The Agriculture Ministry has taken the "Sustainable Agricultural Development in Chattogram Region" project at an estimated cost of Tk 255.96 crore, to be fully financed by the government and implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Spread in 47 upazilas and metropolitan thanas in five districts, the initiative seeks to bring at least 5 percent or 8,565 hectares of fallow and seasonally unused land back into production.

Officials say this alone will help raise the region's croppin...