Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque on Monday lauded the agricultural scientists, who have contributed to high-yielding rice variety innovation, resulting in the country present surplus in rice production.
He said India banned rice exports, the Ukraine-Russia war is prolonged and people are concerned globally over their food security; in such a time Bangladesh is producing surplus food which is great news for the nation.
The minister said this in the inauguration of the two-day BAJF National Conference styled 'Transformation of Bangladesh’s Agriculture: Role of Kazi M Badruddoza,' held at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital on Monday. The Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) organized the program.
Dr Razzaque said the government is promoting agriculture research and innovation, which resulted in the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) innovating 113 high-yielding varieties of rice, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) innovated 97 crop varieties and 38 fruit species so far.
He also recalled the contribution of visionary agricultural scientist Dr Kazi M Badruddoza who spent his life in innovation and research for the country’s crop development.
The event was organised to commemorate one of the greatest agricultural scientists of the world Dr Kazi Md Badruddoza who breathed his last on August 30, 2023. BAJF General Secretary Shahanware Shahid Shaheen moderated while the program was chaired by its President Golam Iftekhar Mahmud.
Dr Shajahan Kabir, Director General of BRRI, Dr Debashish Sarkar, DG of BARI, SM Pervez Tomal, Chairman of NRBC Bank, Dr FH Ansari, President ACI Agribusiness, Md Hamidur Rahman former DG of Department of Agriculture Extension, among other, spoke in the function.
Dr Jahangir Alam, Professor Agribusiness and Marketing Department, at Bangladesh Agricultural University, presented a keynote article on 'Transformation of Bangladesh Agriculture' in the program.
At the conference, the BAJF publication cover was unveiled, and 60 agricultural journalists from across the country are also participating in the two-day training program, ending tomorrow (Tuesday).