MYMENSINGH. July 6 : The Minister for Agriculture. Irrigation, Water Development and Flood Control Major General (Rid) M Majid-Ul-Huq said the Integrated system of crop disease management must be strengthened in order that the country's goal attaining of self sufficiency in food could be reached in a planned manner. He also laid special emphasis on developing disease-resistant varieties of crops and had assured necessary steps for proper utilisation of skills and expertise of the concerned scientists engaged In evolving new crop varieties.

The minister was addressing as chief guest the inaugural session of the fifth biennial conference of Bangladesh Phytopathological Society (BPS) at the Shilphacharya Zainul Abedin auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on June 27.

Presided over by the president of BPS Prof G A Fdkir. the conference was also addressed by the Vice-Chancellor of BAU Prof M Ashraf Alt Khan as the chief patron and the Executive Vice-Chairman of BARC Dr M S U Choudhury as the special guest. The address of welcome was delivered by Prof, li Ashrafuzzaman, while the introduction of the delegates representing various organisations was conducted by Prof. M Bahadur Mcah. Dr Ismail Hossain gave the vote of thanks.

In his presidential speech. Prof, G A Fakir said, there are as many as 1000 types of plant diseases prevalent in our country causing heavy loss in crop production to the tune of Tk two billion annually. Terming this situation as great challenge to the process of agricultural development, he urged upon all concerned to come forward for proper solution of this problem of utmost Impor-tance.

The chief guest also distributed awards to eleven distinguished plant pathologists of the country. The awardees arc : Dr. M ishaque Jalal Uddin Talukdar. Dr Quazi Akhter Ahmed, Dr Abdul Jabbar Miah, Dr Ibn-E-Golam Samad, Dr M A Wadood Mian, Dr Hasan Ashrafuzzaman. Dr Ashraf All Khan. Dr S A Mlah. Dr Golani All Fakir and Dr Hamiz Uddin Ahmed.