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Use surface water in cultivation: Matia

UNB, Dhaka
Agriculture Minster Begum Matia Chowdhry yesterday called for using surface water in cultivation to save the country from the desertification and arsenic hazard, apart from ensuring smooth agriculture production.
“Although the underground water has been used in cultivating crops in winter season, the arsenic hazards and desertification of the country has become serious due to over using of the underground water," she told the inaugural session of a workshop at the BARC auditorium.
Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council organised the two-day workshop titled 'Research priority in agriculture'.
Chaired by BARC Executive Chairman Dr Wais Kabir, the opening session was addressed by Agriculture Secretary CQK Mushtaq Ahmed, BARC member director Dr Sheikh Ghulam Hussain.
Matia said scientists and researchers could inform the government and other authorities concerned about the impact of the extracting underground water, but they failed to do it.
“If the scientists and the researchers do not dare to reveal the truth, they have no right to do the scientific work," she added.
Blaming some quarter of the scientists, Matia said some scientists are involved in destroying the agriculture sector by providing their false research report.
"As the so-called scientists have been receiving fund from foreign countries, they provide 'prescription' as per directives of the foreign organisations,” she said.
Referring to a statement at the climate change conference recently held at Sheraton Hotel, Matia said, one scientist stated that the BRRI-28 and BRRI-29 paddy are responsible for causing diabetes. "I strongly protest against this comment. It is one sort of crime and
criminality."
Mentioning initiatives for extending agriculture sector, she said the government has already taken steps to develop water management system and introduce farm commercialisation programme.
Apprehending the rapid growth of population, she said the agriculture land is decreasing gradually against the increasing population and expanding urbanisation.
"When we will able to address our electricity crisis, the factory and industry will be built beside the roads by grabbing more agricultural lands and it will be a serious threat to our agriculture sector,” she said.
Matia said the cultivation will be extended to the country's low-land area like Kishoreganj and Netrakona districts in the near future.
She urged the researchers and the scientists to come forward with new seeds and crops for adaptation to the climate change and to ensure the food security.