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Be forward-looking in developing hybrid crops

Matia urges scientists

Staff Correspondent
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday urged the scientists to be progressive and forward-looking in developing and extending hybrid and genetically engineered crops to meet the increasing demand for food.
"I appeal to the scientists — don't adhere to conservative school of thoughts. You are here not to give scientific fatwa," she said at a discussion marking the Saarc Charter Day organised by the Saarc Agriculture Centre at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) in the city.
Hybrid crop is a reality today and the debate on it should be over, the minister said, adding: "Have some imagination of the future. Think of three million people being added to the population annually."
Her remarks came at a time when productivity of the existing varieties, especially of rice, remains almost stagnant. However, many do not support hybrid crops. They say cultivation of hybrid crops will lead to elimination of indigenous varieties and make agriculture totally dependent on multinational companies.
During the Boro season, around 10 lakh hectares of land are brought under hybrid rice cultivation, the yield of which is higher by. on an average, two metric tonnes than local high yielding varieties per hectare.
The problem regarding hybrid rice cultivation, for now. is that a large amount of seeds has to be imported. However, the government is trying to develop hybrid varieties locally, officials said.
Matia Chowdhury said the government will surely remain careful about any negative
effects of hybrid technologies.
Dr Mangala Rai. secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, India, said that with the farmland declining and population increasing, there is an urgent need for a boost in food production.
"But, productivity cannot go up without agriculture being profitable," he said, adding that efficient management and investment in research and development are of utmost importance.
Around 50 percent of peo-. pie are dependent on farming, but farm workers' wages are six times lower than that of the industrial workers. This gap must be reduced to end poverty, he said.
Agriculture Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed, BARC Executive Chairman Dr Wais Kabir and Saarc Agriculture Centre Director Rafiqul Islam Mondal also spoke.