A total of thirteen persons are set to receive the country's first-ever 'Agricultural Important Person (AIP) status today (Wednesday) for their outstanding contribution to the development of the agriculture sector.
AIP is similar to the status of Commercially Important Persons (CIPs) and the recipients will enjoy the homogeneous status as the CIPs enjoy.
Earlier, the farmers were first urged to submit their applications to their respective upazila (sub-district) office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) before April 14, 2020.
Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque came up with the information at a press conference at the ministry's conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Agriculture is giving the state honour to the 13 successful farmers for the year of 2020, the minister said.
In the 'Agricultural innovation varieties/technology' category are Dr Lutful Hasan of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Ataus Sopan Malik, Managing Director of AR Malik Seeds Pvt. Ltd, Syed Abdul Matin of Future Organic and Alimush Sadat Chowdhury of Alim Industries.
Under the 'Agricultural production/commercial farm establishment and agro-processing industry', the six awardees are Md Salim Reza, Distantho Agro Farm & Nursery in Natore, Md Mehedi Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury of Thakurgaon, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Esha Integrated Agriculture Farm, Md Badrul Haider Bepari, Pirojpur, Md Shahbaz Hussain Khan, Patuakhali and Md Samsuddin (Kalu), Comilla.
Under the category of the government-approved or registered organisation in agricultural produce, fisheries, livestock and forest subsectors, the recipient is Jahangir Alam Shah, from Naogaon district.
Apart from these, under gold medal category of Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award, two awardees are Nurunnahar Begum and Shahjahan Ali Badsha, both from Pabna.
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