Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid on Saturday said the country’s economic strength depends on strengthening its agricultural economy, as most people in Bangladesh are directly or indirectly involved in the sector.
“The government believes that a strong agricultural economy will lead to a strong national economy,” he said, adding that modern technology was essential to reducing post-harvest losses and expanding agricultural exports.
The minister was speaking at the inauguration of the country’s first large-scale Gamma Irradiation Centre at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) Regional Research Centre in Bhabanipur of Gazipur.
He said the government was working to reduce dependence on imported agricultural products, particularly onions, and expressed hope that Bangladesh would no longer need to import onions in the future.
The 500,000-curie-capacity facility will use gamma irradiation technology to eliminate harmful microorganisms, prevent spoilage, and extend the shelf life of agricultural products, including onions, potatoes, mangoes, jackfruits, pineapples, and vegetables.
The minister said Bangladesh produced high-quality mangoes and other fruits, but their limited shelf life and difficulties meeting international safety standards had restricted export opportunities.
He said the new technology would help make agricultural products safer and more suitable for international markets, including Australia, China, Pakistan and Europe, where demand for Bangladeshi fruits was growing.
“Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country, yet agricultural products have not become one of its leading export items. Technological limitations are among the main reasons,” he said.
Rashid stressed that the centre's success would depend not only on investment and machinery but also on efficient management and skilled personnel. He said the government planned to establish similar facilities across the country to ensure better market access and fair prices for farmers.
Highlighting food safety, he said the government was also testing the quality of imported food products and would take steps to stop imports of items considered harmful to public health.
According to BINA, China's state-owned China Isotope and Radiation Corporation received the contract to build the centre through an international tender in 2024.
