Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday called for boosting the country's farm products to help diversify the export basket and earn more in foreign exchange, report agencies.
"I think agricultural products can play a vital role in diversifying export basket. We must not be dependent on one or two export items only," she said.
Hasina urged the countrymen to make all-out efforts so Bangladesh never has to face any situation like famine and food insufficiency due to prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have soil and manpower. So, we have to take initiative from now on so that Bangladesh never has to face famine and food insufficiency-like situations. We will have to grow our food," she said.
The premier was virtually addressing a programme organised to hand over Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puroshkar-1425 and 1426 (Bangla year), the highest state recognition in the agriculture sector from her official Ganabhaban residence.
The Ministry of Agriculture organised the function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here Wednesday morning.
On behalf of the prime minister, the agriculture minister distributed the award among 44 individuals and organisations for their contribution to the agriculture research and expansion, cooperatives, motivation, technology innovation, commercial farming, aforestation, rearing livestock and poultry and fish farming.
Of them, 15 individuals and organizations got the award for the Bangla year of 1425 while 21 individuals and organizations for the Bangla year of 1426.
Three gold medals, twenty-five bronze medals and sixteen silver medals were distributed among the selected persons and organizations.
Each of the gold medal winners received Tk 0.1 million along with 18-carat gold medal weighing 25 grams, while each silver medal winner got Tk 50,000 along with a medal of 25 grams pure silver and each bronze medal winner received Tk 25,000 along with a bronze medal.
PM Hasina said that her government has been working hard to increase the agricultural products with the twin objectives of making the country self-reliant and raising the exports.
"We should always keep this in mind. We will stand on our own feet by reducing dependence on import," she said.
She said that in Bangladesh coronavirus has been contained successfully and now it is time to go for producing more food.
"Not a single inch of land should be left uncultivated. Even the roofs of the buildings have to be used food production," she said.
