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Meeting Growing Population's Food Demands

Intense agricultural research prerequisite: PM

She presents Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puraskar-1418 to 28 persons, organisations

BSS, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday laid importance on constant and intense agricultural research to meet the demand for food of the country's growing population and make the country hunger and poverty free.
"Without new innovations to produce more food and make it more diverse, it is not possible to maintain the present pace of food production," she said while distributing Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puraskar-1418 in the capital's Osmani Memorial Hall.
Bangladesh was able to cope with the worldwide food crisis and soaring food prices in the last few years due to her government's pragmatic steps for agricultural research, she said.
"We have to maintain the
growth in the agriculture sector to protect our agri-based economy, ensure food security of the people and rural employment and improve their living standards," said Hasina.
Seeking support of agricultural scientists, she said as an agrobased country, more attention must be laid on agricultural production to strengthen the country's economy to live as a dignified nation amongst the world community.
Hasina announced that the government would further consider increasing the retirement age of agricultural scientists so that they can contribute more.
She said, “It is the responsibility of the government to make the agricultural components available to farmers. Why will they
have to go for agitation or lay down their lives for those items?"
She said her government would continue providing support to farmers including agriculture loan, fertiliser at fair prices and subsidy on irrigation while making agricultural components available.
Hasina said food grain production was raised to about 373 lakh metric tonnes in 2012-13 fiscal year from 333 lakh metric tonnes in 2008-09.
She said the living standard of people in the country increased over the last few years. Moreover, the level of their protein intake has also increased.
She hoped that the award will inspire people working in the agricultural field to work with moredevotionandsincerity.
This year 28 persons and organisations were accorded the award, which includes four gold, seven silver and 17 bronze medals, for their outstanding contribution in the field of agriculture.
The gold medal recipients are East Beercote IPM Women Club of Senbag, Noakhali; Gadkhali Nurturer and Flower Traders Welfare Association of Jhikargachha, Jessore; M Lutfor Rahman of Sadullahpur of Gaibandha; and Mamun ur Rashid, deputy director of Agriculture Extension Department (AED).
The silver medal recipients are Biotechnology Division of Bangladesh Atomic Agri Research Institute, Mymensingh; Asaduzzaman Chowdhury of South Bishnupur of Badarganj upazila, Rangpur; Soil Resources Development Institute; Kumardugi Vegetable CIG Cooperatives Ltd of Krishnapur ofChandpur district; Mritunjoy Roy, AED, Bagerhat; Arnzad Khan of Madabpur of Habiganj; and Sanjib Sutradhar, upazila animal resources officer of Brahmanbaria.
The bronze medals recipients are Parimal Sarkar, subassistant agriculture officer of Mithapukur, Rangpur; Moksudur Rahman Lebu of
Nalitabari of Sherpur; Syed Nurul Awal Taramia, store keeper of AED, Khamarbari, Kishoreganj; Salma Akhter, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Brahmanbaria Sadar; Selim Reza, subassistant agriculture officer of Muktagachha, Mymensingh; Logy Begum of Rajbari Sadar of Rajbari; M/S Fatema Enterprise of Syedpur of Nilphamari; M Ansar Ali of Shibganj of Bogra; Selina Zaman of Shibpur of Narsingdi; Adarsha Krishi Khamar of Ishwardi, Pabna; Mati Ma Monindra-Sabitree Afforestration Project of Dumuria, Khulna; Syed Abdul Matin of DJ Agro Ltd of Rampal, Bagerhat; Masum Sikder of Kalagacha, Patuakhali; Altab Ali of Biswanath, Sylhet; M Jaherul Islam of Ranishangkoil, Thakurgaon; Amirul Islam of Lakshmikunda of Ishwardi, Pabna; and Mayeen Uddin of Omarpur of Daganbhuiyan, Feni.
Agriculture Minister Maria Chowdhdury, Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister Abdul Latif Biswas, Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud and Agriculture Secretary Dr SM Nazmul Islam spoke, among others.