DHAKA, Feb 12, 2024 (BSS) - 'The Agriculturists Day' will be observed in the country tomorrow through various programmes.
 
On this occasion, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages extending greetings to agriculturists and wishing all programmes of the day a success.
 
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced to upgrade the agriculturists to the class-I status in the government service on February 13, 1973 and in this perspective, observance of February 13 as Agriculturists Day is important.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, in his message, said with the emergence of civilization, humans have been depending on agriculture for meeting their basic needs.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave maximum importance to agricultural education, research, extension and development of agriculture in the first budget of the newly-independent country and allocated the highest budget to the agriculture sector, he said.

The President said the government is implementing multifaceted activities for the overall development of agriculture on the path shown by the father of the nation.

"As a result we are now self-sufficient in food grains. Besides, the mass production of vegetables and fruits, fish, meat, milk and eggs is playing an important role in meeting the daily nutritional needs at the national level," he added.

Noting that information technology in agriculture or e-agriculture is an integral part of the development of the country, he said appropriate use of information technology at every stage including crop production, processing and its marketing will play a helpful role in ensuring sustainable agricultural production.

As a result of population growth and unplanned urbanization, the per capita land in the country is gradually decreasing, Shahabuddin mentioned.

To meet the food and nutritional needs of people, the President urged the agricultural scientists to continue their relentless efforts to develop new technologies and more high-yielding varieties of seeds, to produce rich fish, meat, eggs and milk enriched with high protein.

Besides, the president underscored the need for raising awareness of the use of chemicals and pesticides which are harmful to public health.

"I hope that the agriculturists with their knowledge, talents and labor will contribute to build a hunger- and poverty-free Smart Bangladesh by implementing Vision-2041," the President added.