The three-day long 8th international conference of the Asian Society of Agricultural Economists came to an end at Savar yesterday.
Three hundred and twenty-one agricultural economists, development practitioners, policy makers, academicians, and researchers from 30 countries including Philippine, Japan, China, Korea, and India participated in the conference that focused on “survival of small farmers.”
Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury inaugurated the conference as the chief guest while President of ASAE and Adviser to the Executive Director of BRAC Dr Mahabub Hossain delivered the welcome speech.
A total of 150 papers were presented at the conference which highlighted the fact that, with rapid rural to urban migration, the farm size gradually expands which facilitates adoption of labour, saving technologies and growth of agricultural productivity. The history of agricultural development demonstrates that almost all of the developed countries in North America and Europe followed that process, said speakers.
Through the discussions the panelists proposed that a public policy should be adopted to address the inherent constraints of small farmers in order to turn Bangladesh into a medium income country by 2012 and ensure food security.
Dr Mahabub Hossain said: “In our country, such conference can play a crucial role as our small farmer brothers freed the country from the grip of famine.”
