Shawdesh desk:

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday laid emphasis on research and crops zone mapping, saying different varieties of crops have to be cultivated on the basis of concerned area’s land fertility, water and environment to yield best outcome at lowest cost.

“We need concrete research and zone mapping on the basis of weather and environment to find out which crops are high yielding with high quality in which areas involving lowest cost,” she said.

The premier said this at the cover unveiling ceremony of “The 100 Agro Technologies Atlas” at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban this morning.

Mentioning the necessity of setting up more regional laboratories to make the agriculture products more quality-full, she said the zone mapping is essential for more and high quality production as Bangladesh is a delta where each variety of crops could be yielded high depending on soil, water, weather and environment in each area.

“We should find out a research method for the zone mapping,” she said, adding it should kept in your (researchers) mind that production is needed to be increased as size of domestic market is being expanded and the same time export of these products is needed for the development of the country.

Besides, the government is also establishing 100 special economic zones across the country where the local raw materials, especially the local agro products, would be given priority for processing to export aboard, she said.

She went on saying, “If we could arrange both local and foreign investment prioritising area-based products, people of the country would be benefited financially along with increasing the number of export items.”

Sheikh Hasina said the economy of the country depends on agriculture and the government prioritises agro-based industry and these types of industrialization are needed for the progress of the country.

Seeking researchers’ cooperation, she said measures have to be taken keeping in mind that Bangladesh’s economy is agro-based and its production needs to be boosted and processed to grab both domestic and foreign markets.

Pointing out the increased food grains production as the outcome of research, the premier said, “Without research, none is possible to achieve and it is the reality. We can move further if you (researchers) take more initiatives.”

She hoped the agriculture production, processing and marketing along with others things could be made more technology based through research.

Agriculture minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP, chaired the ceremony while senior secretary of the ministry Md. Mesbahul Islam gave welcome speech.

Fisheries and livestock minister S M Rezaul Karim, MP and chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on ministry of agriculture Matia Chowdhury, MP, spoke on the occasion as special guests.

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) executive chairman Dr. Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar and successful agro entrepreneur Md Rafikul Islam also spoke.

BARC published the 100 Agro Technologies Atlas.