DHAKA, May 15, 2024 (BSS) - Agriculture Minister Dr M

Abdus Shahid today said that necessary steps will be taken to
increase the budget for the agriculture sector.

“The government will take necessary initiatives to raise more
budgets for the agriculture sector, as the government is giving
the utmost priority to development of agriculture and welfare
of growers,” he said.

The agriculture minister said this while attending an
innovation-showcasing function run by the agriculture
ministry and its 17 subordinate agencies and research outfits
at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC)
auditorium here this morning.

Now farmers have no allegations regarding farming, as Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina is disbursing necessary financial
allocations considering problems and budget deficit, he said.
“We are now capable enough to face any challenge emerging
in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Mentioning that the developed world is using robots in farm
activities, the agriculture minister said, “So, we have to put
emphasis on implementing smart-agriculture systems.”

Giving emphasis on innovation showcased by different
research agencies, Dr Shahid said the initiative will motivate
farmers to use modern and strategic knowledge, which will
ultimately increase food production and consolidate the
country’s food security.

The programme was attended, among others, by additional
secretary of the agriculture ministry Moloy Chowdhury,
additional secretary Farzana Mamtaz, BARC’s Executive
Chairman Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, Bangladesh
Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) Chairman
Abdullah Sajjad, Director General (DG) of the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) Badal Chandra Biswas and
other agency chiefs.

Calling researchers and officials to concentrate on
innovation, agriculture secretary Wahida Akhter said, “Our
researchers must look for innovations along with their routine
work. Their new venture will help the farmers raise their
productivity,” said the secretary, who chaired the function.
 
At the innovation display, the agriculture ministry and its
seventeen subordinate agencies and research bodies
showcased the innovations of their own organizations, which
included a smart wealth management system, horticulture
centre management software, a smart rice profile mobile app,
digitalization of irrigation charge, farming and vertical
farming systems without soil, and prepaid meters for
irrigation in the Barind region.