3-day 'Seed Congress' begins Saturday

A three-day 'Bangladesh Seed Congress-2023' will kick off at Bangabandhu International Conference Center Saturday under the arrangement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Bangladesh Seed Association (BSA).

On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages, greeting all concerned in seed industry.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid hoped that Bangladesh Seed Congress will encourage farmers to use modern technology in agriculture and play an important role in disseminating better quality seeds and seed based-technology among farmers.

Noting that the use of improved seeds is very important in agricultural production, the head of the state said that the combined efforts of the government and private institutions concerned in the development of the seed industry can take the progress of agriculture one step forward.

Proper use of modern seed technology will increase crop production and farmers will also benefit financially, he said.

Currently, the production of hybrid rice and vegetables is increasing in the country, he said, adding that it is, however, important to consider the interest of the farmers in the use of hybrid seeds.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the dream of the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was to ensure the welfare of the people of the country by building 'Sonar Bangladesh' through achieving economic emancipation.

In continuation of that, Bangabandhu took many steps to ensure overall development and self-reliance of agriculture and farmers of the country, the premier said.

Considering the status and importance of agricultural profession, Bangabandhu raised the status of agricultural officers to the first-class category, she added.

The Father of the Nation established the Seed Certification Agency in 1974 to ensure the supply of quality seeds in the country by giving utmost importance to seeds in agricultural development, she continued.

Bangabandhu introduced the 'Rashtrapati (president) Krishi Award' in 1973 to encourage agricultural research and its development, she said.

But the agricultural progress of this country stopped following the assassination of the father of the nation and most of his family members in 1975, said Sheikh Hasina.

Following the footstep of Bangabandhu, she said, the Awami League (AL)-led government is implementing various programmes including providing subsidies and incentives and increasing investment in agriculture to transform this agricultural country into a developed country by 2041, prioritizing the goals of the father of the nation.

"Our government is working relentlessly to give utmost importance to the farmers and agriculture sector of the country," she added.

Considering the increase in agricultural production and farmers' profits, the government has reduced the prices of agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, several times, she said.

She mentioned that the government also subsidized diesel for irrigation and ensured adequate electricity supply to rural areas of the country.

Ensuring food and nutrition security for the ever-growing population is a major challenge for agriculture due to global climate change, environmental degradation and the land shrinking of the country, she said.

The Prime Minister said, in order to face those challenges, the government seed institutions as well as private seed institutions should come forward through sustainable agricultural development.

She underscored the need for providing good quality seeds to the farmers and introducing new techniques of agriculture to the farmers living in remote areas.

She urged all to maintain the growth of agricultural production by utilizing every inch of uncultivated-land in the country.

Both the president and the premier wished the overall success of the 'Bangladesh Seed Congress-2023'.