The government is working to turn agricultural products into major export items, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said on Saturday. Bangladesh has not had to import onions so far this year, he said, and one day it will export a range of farm products.
He was speaking at a seminar on technical education and innovation for sustainable agriculture and food security, on the second day of a three-day Technical Education and Innovation Fair at Cumilla Town Hall ground, organised by the Cumilla District Technical, Vocational Education and Training Institution Forum (TVET).
The minister said excessive pesticide use in crops is harming people's health, and that scientific research has found cases of cancer among farmers. Safe food production must therefore have the highest priority to protect health and secure the next generation's future, he said, calling for less pesticide and safe, sustainable farming.
Fertile soil, plenty of sunlight and rain, and a hardworking people give Bangladesh ample scope to raise output, he said. "We have to go to the fields and produce our own crops, and make the most of limited resources." He called it unfortunate that green chillies, carrots and tomatoes still have to be imported, but said the day is not far when they will not be needed.
Before the seminar, the minister toured stalls and inspected students' innovation projects. Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Rozi Akter chaired the seminar, Cumilla Polytechnic Institute vice-principal Engineer Md Sakhawat Hasan presented the keynote, and Cumilla City Corporation Administrator Md Yusuf Molla Tipu attended as special guest.
This report is based on reporting by BSS.
Photo: Shmunmun / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: BSS
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