Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque lauded the late agricultural scientist Dr Kazi M Badruddoza -- known for his widely-recognised invention "Kazi Guava" -- as the catalyst behind the transformation of Bangladesh's agriculture.
He highlighted Dr Badruddoza's pivotal role in modernising the traditional farming practices of the country through the application of scientific methods.
During the inauguration of the two-day national conference in Dhaka on Monday, the minister said the nation is now reaping the benefits of Badruddoza's visionary approach.
The conference titled 'Transformation of Bangladesh's Agriculture: Role of Kazi M Badruddoza' was organised by the Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum (BAJF) and moderated by BAJF General Secretary Shahanware Shaheed Shaheen, with BAJF President Golam Iftekhar Mahmud as the chair.
The programme was designed to commemorate the late agricultural scientist Dr Kazi M Badruddoza, who passed away on August 30 this year.
During the inaugural day, the BAJF publication cover was unveiled and 60 agricultural journalists from across the country participated in the two-day training programme, which will conclude on Tuesday.
On the first day of training, participants received insights on agricultural mechanisation through integrated management, export of agricultural products, sustainable agriculture practices to combat climate change, disaster-prone crop varieties and year-long fruit production.
The minister acknowledged that the second phase of the agricultural revolution presents formidable challenges, primarily focused on the mechanisation of various agricultural processes, from paddy planting to threshing.
Abdur Razzaque called for modernising and commercialising all facets of agriculture, with a particular emphasis on increasing agricultural processing to enhance value addition.
Former director general of the Department of Agriculture Extension Hamidur Rahman recounted how Kazi Badruddoza's direct dialogue with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led to the establishment of the Agricultural Research Council (BARC), averting the construction of a five-star hotel on the proposed site.
NRBC Bank Chairman SM Parvez Tamal emphasised the need for increased investment in agriculture to reduce import dependence and boost exports.
Tamal advocated for a private-sector partnership and proposed raising the allocation of bank investments in the agriculture sector from 2.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent.
He also suggested that agricultural loans should be disbursed directly through banks, reducing reliance on NGOs for loan distribution.
ACI Agribusiness Managing Director FH Ansari highlighted the significant contributions of the private sector to agricultural research in Bangladesh and called for government initiatives to further support private sector research.
Ansari also recommended streamlining the bank financing process for farm mechanisation.
Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir, director general of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), outlined efforts to develop new rice varieties with higher protein content and fortified with zinc, iron and antioxidants.
Meanwhile, Debashish Sarkar, director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), discussed the challenges posed by shrinking land availability and climate change, emphasising BARI's commitment to developing climate-tolerant crop varieties and technologies.
Managing Director of Hortex Foundation Md Rafiqul Amin delivered a welcome address while Prof Dr Jahangir Alam, Agribusiness and Marketing Department, Bangladesh Agricultural University presented the keynote article on 'Transformation of Bangladesh Agriculture'.
Dr Alam noted Bangladesh's impressive agricultural production given its land constraints but acknowledged the need to improve agricultural productivity further.
He emphasised the importance of cultivating fallow lands and achieving food self-sufficiency to safeguard against global crises.
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