ZCZC
BSS-18
SEED-FAIR
National Seed Fair-2019 begins tomorrow
DHAKA, June 27, 2019 (BSS)-The National Seed Fair-2019 will begin in the
city tomorrow.
Agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzaque will inaugurate the three-day fair
at the auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), said
additional secretary and seed wing director general of the agriculture
ministry Ashraf Uddin Ahmed at a press conference here today.
The fair will remain open for public from 9am to 8pm up to June 30, he
said.
Ashraf Uddin Ahmed said as the 7th Five Year Plan and SDG targets,
production and supply of quality seeds must be ensured for ensuring food and
nutrition for the increasing number of population.
Supply of quality high yielding seeds will have to be increased to 7,
78,644 tonnes in achieving SDG-2, he said, adding that efforts are underway
to formulate a comprehensive plan to increase the production and supply of
quality seeds at the national level.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate
messages urging the public and private organizations to beef up efforts to
produce and expand quality seeds of different crops by local organizations to
reduce dependence on imported seeds.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said quality seeds are essential for
sustainable agricultural production. A revolution has taken place in the
country’s agricultural production due to the government’s relentless efforts
and the increasing use of quality seeds of different crops has also played an
important role, he added.
“I believe that the national seed fair would encourage farmers,
individuals and organizations in the public-private sector for production and
use of quality seeds,” the Presided added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the agricultural sector highest
priority in rebuilding the war ravaged country and the government has been
taking agriculture friendly policy and measures for modernization of the
agriculture sector since 2009.
The present government has taken various steps to produce and supply
quality seeds for the production of crops.
The government enacted ‘Seeds Bill- 2018’ and all facilities were extended
to the private seed sector, she said, adding that public-private
organizations should be more active in producing quality seeds taking into
consideration the climate change and overall environment of the country.
BSS/PR/TAN/ARS/1656 hrs