Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque has called on the scientists to work harder to innovate various resistant varieties of food grains and new technologies to ensure food security in the country.
The minister made this remark while addressing a programme as the chief guest at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in Gazipur on Sunday.
He laid stress on reaching out the invented varieties of crops and new technologies to the farmers at the earliest and the gap between innovation and expansion process hast to be reduced.
Earlier, the minister visited two newly established laborites of plant pathology and soil science and a technology exhibition stall.
“We do not have food shortages. Preparation of exporting the surplus crops such as potatoes, vegetables and fruits are almost completed,” he said.
The export of agricultural products has increased comparing to the previous year, the minister said and hoped that the exports will be increased further in the coming days.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute is currently conducting research on 211 varieties of crops.
During the tenure of the present government, BARI has developed a total of 669 types of advanced technologies including 306 improved varieties and 363 technologies during 2009-2021.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell, MP and agriculture ministry senior secretary Mesbahul Islam were present at the programme as special guests.
Director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Dr Nazirul Islam presided over the programme.
Zahurul Karim, eminent scientist BARI's founding director Kazi M Badruddoza, BARI's Director Md Tariqul Islam, DirectorKamrul Hasan were also present at the event.
