DHAKA, Dec 10, 2024 (BSS) - Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin today urged journalists to speak about the reforms of the government organizations related to agriculture apart from focusing on the agricultural output of the country. 

 “Agriculture is a vital sector and reforms of the government organizations related to agriculture are needed for the development of the sector,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at an award giving ceremony at the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) in the city, said a press release.
 
A total of ten journalists from various media outlets were honored with the “ERF-PRAN Media Award-2024” for their outstanding reporting on agriculture and the agro-processing sector. 

ERF, a leading organization for business journalists, in collaboration with PRAN, a pioneer in the country’s agro-processing sector, honored these journalists. 

This year, the award was presented in three categories: print, online, and television. Five journalists were recognized in the print category, two in the online category, and three in television category.

Chairman and CEO of PRAN-RFL Group Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Mohammad Shafiqul Alam and Managing Director of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Mohammad Abdullah were present as special guests while ERF president Refayet Ullah Mirdha presided over the event while general secretary Abul Kashem conducted it. 

Ahsan Khan Chowdhury stated, “The Netherlands, a country smaller than Bangladesh, is now exporting agro-processing products worth US$100 billion, while our neighboring country Thailand earns $36 billion from the sector. In contrast, only one percent of agricultural products in Bangladesh are processed. We need to identify the reasons behind our underperformance in this sector.” 

He further added, “Reporting on the agro-processing sector has a significant positive impact on farmers, businesses, and the overall economy of the country. We are pleased to honor journalists in this field in collaboration with ERF.”