Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak has asked to intensify research on cropping systems, heat and disease tolerant varieties of wheat, and introduce technologies and farming practices to sustainably increase production and reduce wheat imports of the country.
The minister was speaking at a virtual meeting on ongoing research activities on the development of sustainable cereal-based farming systems on Friday, said a media statement.
The event was jointly organised by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and the Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI).
Dr Abdur Razzak thanked CIMMYT for the support in increasing maize and wheat production in Bangladesh, which has been crucial to assure food and income security and reach towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Work is underway to increase maize production to 10 million metric tons per year in the next five years. And if we can do this, it will be possible not only to achieve self-sufficiency in maize production, but also to earn a lot of foreign exchange by exporting abroad,” he added.
The agriculture minister further said that as a result of change in food habits, the demand for wheat in Bangladesh is increasing but the production is very low.
He also expressed his gratitude for CIMMYT’s mitigation of the threats posed by pests and diseases, and climate information services enabling farmers to avoid crop losses in mung beans.
The event focused on how CIMMYT can continue its support to the government, on the implications of the transitions to “ONE CGIAR” might mean for collaborative activities, and the support to other CGIAR centres within Bangladesh.
Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) acknowledged the successful international collaboration with CIMMYT since 1970 in maize and wheat variety development, overcoming the constraints of natural resource degradation, and mitigating climate.
In addition to that, he also identified the necessity of bi-fortified wheat and maize varieties and food processing as major challenges, where the CGIAR and CIMMYT can help.
Dr Timothy J Krupnik, country representative for CIMMYT Bangladesh, talked about the CIMMYT’s contribution in Bangladesh in the agricultural field including fight back against Fall armyworm, a pest of maize, research in systems agronomy to boost crop intensity, and use of advanced simulation models and remote sensing assist in increasing production.
Bruno Gérard, director of the Sustainable Intensification Program at CIMMYT, acknowledged the long collaboration with the government on agricultural mechanization as an internationally recognized success.
Dr Israil Hussain, director general of BWMRI, acknowledged the long collaboration with CIMMYT that helped to release two new varieties of wheat this year.
He mentioned that CIMMYT is the main source of germplasm for maize and wheat in Bangladesh that helped to grow the maize and wheat as the second and third most widely grown cereals in the country.
Dr Israil Hussain also identified some major areas of future collaborations like ICT based disease forecasting systems, industrial use of maize, and exchange of saline, drought and waterlogged tolerant varieties, in addition to appropriate mechanization.
Dr Martin Kropff, director general of CIMMYT, said CIMMYT along with other centres will strengthen support to the government to achieve a hunger-free country.
Around 21 participants from various government offices including the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and BARC were present at the event.