Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday the children of farmers should be in farming profession to utilise their knowledge in a greater way, reports UNB.
"There shouldn't be any such attitude that farmers' children need not to continue their fathers' profession after having education... we're modernising our agriculture and providing equipment to the farmers," she said.
The PM made the comments while inaugurating digital 'Krishi Batayan' and 'Krishak Bondhu Phone Seba' to expand agricultural services across the country through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She said the children of farmers can utilise the knowledge they have gathered from their parents for the development of the country's agriculture. "I think this (agriculture) is a sacred profession and all need to get involved in agriculture," she said.
Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that it could ensure the food security of people through agricultural activities. "There's nothing nobler than this work. So, we're using modern technologies in agricultural activities."
The PM said the government has been working to improve living standard and make life and livelihood of people easier by using ICT-based technology.
For the purpose, 'Krishi Batayan' (Agriculture Window) and 'Krishok Bandhu Phone Sheba' apps Shathi have been launched to provide non-stop advice and services to the farmers on problems and prospects of agriculture, she said.
Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to keep provisions there to record questions and answers of the researchers, extension workers, teachers and farmers, and preserve in the Krishi Batayan to use these afterwards.
She said the Father of the Nation undertook massive programmes for the welfare of the farmers and development of the agriculture sector, including providing seeds and fertilisers to farmers.
Besides, steps were also taken to provide khas land to landless people and build cluster villages to rehabilitate the homeless people, she said.
But after brutal assassination of Bangabandhu, the farmers had remained neglected for a long time, she added.
Returning to power, Hasina said, her government implemented various programmes like research on agriculture and creating opportunities for the farmers for which the country got good results and it has became self-reliant on food production.
The government now wants to continue such facilities to further improve agriculture sector of the country, she said.
Over 5,275 digital centres have been set up across the country from where anyone can avail of information as required.
The digital platform developed by the A2i of the Prime Minister's Office in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Extension has been introduced aiming to expand countrywide e-agriculture services through mobile phones being used by the farmers, the PM added.
The programme was undertaken primarily as a pilot project in all the upazilas of Kushtia district and 30 more upazilas of the country to reach agriculture- related various information to the doorsteps of farmers.
