Agriculture Minister Dr. Md Abdur Razzaque yesterday said that the government is now working with utmost importance on crop production in adverse environments and land including coastal saline, haor, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
“To ensure sustainable food security for the growing population of the country, the government is now working with utmost importance on crop production in adverse environment and land including coastal saline, haor, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts,” he said.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organized by the agriculture ministry on the occasion of World Soil Day at a city hotel, a press release said.
Soil Resource Development Institute, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Practical Action, and Soil Science Society of Bangladesh provided assistance in organizing the event, it added.
He said food security has been achieved in the country during the tenure of the present agri-friendly Awami League government.
The government is now working tirelessly to ensure the nutritional security of all people, he said, adding that but with declining cultivable land, growing populations and the adverse effects of climate change, maintaining food security is the biggest challenge in the country.
In order to keep the food production system stable and sustainable, cultivable varieties and production technologies have to be developed and disseminated in the saline lands of coastal and southern areas, he added.
“Our agricultural scientists have been able to develop improved varieties of salinity tolerant crops. Work is underway to rapidly expand these varieties and production technologies among farmers,” he continued.
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Md Mesbahul Islam were present there as special guests, among others.
Later, Soil Care Award-2021, Soil Olympiad, and Soil Day awards were distributed among the winners.
