Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the importance of constant and intense research on agriculture in order to achieve the goal of eradicating hunger and poverty.
She said: “It is not possible to meet the food demands of a growing population and maintain the present food surplus without new innovations in the agriculture sector.”
The premier made the statement at the awards ceremony for Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puraskar 1418 at Osmani Memorial Hall in the capital on Monday, reports BSS.
She said Bangladesh could overcome the situation of food shortages and soaring prices taking place across the world over the past few years.
The prime minister said: “It’s the responsibility of the government to make the agricultural components available for farmers.”
She asked: “Why should they need to stage agitations or lay down their lives for those items?”
Seeking the support of agricultural scientists, she said: “ As an agro-based country, we have to give more attention to agricultural production to strengthen our economy, to live as a dignified nation among the world community.”
The prime minister announced the government would consider increasing the retirement age of agricultural scientists so they could continue to contribute more in this sector.
She said her government had assumed office in 1996 with a food deficit of 4m metric tonnes. During her tenure, she said the Awami League government made Bangladesh a food surplus country by producing 2.6m metric tonnes of additional food.
Now Bangladesh produces 3m metric tonnesof food in surplus of itsannual requirement, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has been providing huge subsidies to farmers.
Around Tk240bn was given as agricultural subsidies in the last four and a half years, she said.
The prime minister said agriculture loans totaling Tk460bn has been disbursed, and agri-credit has been distributed among sharecroppers at very nominal interest.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhdury presided over the function. Speakers included: Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Abdul Latif Biswas and Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud. Agriculture secretary Dr SM Nazmul Islam gave the welcome address.
This year a total of 28 persons and organizations were given the Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puraskar, including four gold, seven silver and 17 bronze medals for their outstanding contribution to the field of agriculture.
Gold medal recipients were: East Beercote IPM Women’s Club of Senbag, Noakhali;Gadkhali Nurturer and Flower Traders Welfare Association of Jhikargachha, Jessore; M Lutfor Rahman of Sadullahpur, Gaibandha; Mamunur Rashid, deputy director of the Agriculture Extension Department (AED).
Silver medal recipients were: the biotechnology division of Bangladesh Atomic Agri Research Institute, Mymensingh; Asaduzzaman Chowdhury of South Bishnupur, Badarganjupazila, Rangpur; Soil Resources Development Institute, Kumardugi Vegetable CIG Cooperatives of Krishnapur, Chandpur; Mritunjoy Roy, AED, Bagerhat; Amzad Khan of Madabpur, Habiganj; and Sanjib Sutradhar, upazila animal resources officer of Brahamanbaria.
Bronze medal recipients were: Parimal Sarkar, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Mithapukur, Rangpur; Moksudur Rahman Lebu of Nalitabari, Sherpur; Syed Nurul Awal Taramia, store keeper of AED, Khamarbari, Kishoreganj; Salma Akhter, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Brahmanbari Sadar; Selim Reza, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Muktagachha, Mymensingh; Logy Begum of Rajbari Sadar, Rajbari; Fatema Enterprise of Syedpur, Nilphamari; MAnsar Ali of Shibganj of Bogra; Selina Zaman of Shibpur, Narsindi; Adarsha Krishi Khamar of Ishwardi, Pabna; Mati Ma Monindra-Sabitree Afforestration Project of Dumuria, Khulna; Syed Abdul Matin of D J Agro of Rampal, Bagerhat; Masum Sikder of Kalagacha, Patuakhali; Altab Ali of Biswanath, Sylhet; M Jaherul Islam of Ranishangkoil of Thakurgaon; Amirul Islam of Lakshmikunda in Ishwardi, Pabna; and MayeenUddin of Omarpur in Daganbhuiyan, Feni.