Bangladesh will become a developing country within 2024 despite the challenges unfolded by the Covid-19 crisis.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said this on Saturday while addressing the online discussion “8th Five Year Plan: Agriculture, Forest, Water Resources, Safe Food and Nutrition Security,” organised by Bangladesh Krishi Orthonitibid Samity.

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To implement the 8th Five Year Plan, closer attention will have to be given to commercialisation, mechanisation, diversification of the agriculture sector and agricultural export promotion, Dr Razzaque said.

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He stressed the need for creating skilled human resources to get better frontline researches for the sector.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “It will be possible to optimise agricultural production by using Internet of Things (IoT) and season-based devices.”

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Also, Bangladesh Krishi Orthonitibid Samity President Sajjadul Hassan focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT in agriculture.

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Dr Shamsul Alam, member of General Economic Division of Planning Commission, presented the keynote speech at the programme, highlighting the main challenges facing the country’s agriculture sector and solutions to them.

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Dr Alam also focused the need for ensuring safe food and nutrition security to meet future demand.