Matia stresses on innovation of saline tolerant crop variety to face climate change risk

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DHAKA, July 29, 2018 (BSS) – Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury today stressed on inventing saline tolerant crop variety considering the risk of climate change for more consolidating the nutrition and food security of the people.

“We have to develop saline tolerant variety along with crop intensity and farm mechanization technology at the southern region,” said the agriculture minister.

The Agriculture Minister told this as the chief guest while addressing in a day long workshop held at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) here.

Our rice, potato and maize production has significantly increased, she said, adding that we are self-sufficient in cereal production.

Even we have invented many new crop variety and technology, the minister told the workshop, jointly organized by Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) and Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Considering the risk of climate change, the minister said : “We have to develop water, soil nutrition management , crop intensity and farm mechanization for ensuring sustainable production.”

Matia said the ACIAR has been implementing different programmes for development of the agriculture since 1990.

With BARC Executive Chairman Dr Md Kabir Ikramul Haq, the workshop was also addressed, among others, by Senior Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Mainuddin Abdullah and Australian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Ms Julia Niblett as the special guests.