Govt to introduce gene technology based crops for raising production: Matia

Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury Tuesday said the government would cautiously introduce gene technology based crops varieties in the country in order to increase food production for attaining food security.
She urged the private sector entrepreneurs for coming up with big investments in gene technology based seeds business for benefiting them side by side helping the farmers increase farm output. The minister was addressing as the chief guest while inaugurating Bangladesh Seed Conference and Seed Fair 2010 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the city. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni addressed the seminar as special guest. Agriculture Ministry organized the seminar with Agriculture Secretary CQK Mustak Ahmed in the chair.
Director of SAARC Agriculture Center Dr Rafiqul Islam Mandal, Divisional Chief of Seed Science and Technology, Indian Agriculture Research Institute Dr Malavika Dadlani spoke at the function.
Additional Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture Anwar Faruque presented keynote paper. Convener of Bangladesh Seed Association delivered welcome address.
The Agriculture Minister said the government would ensure the interests of the farmers and protect them from any distress situation. She urged the seed traders for doing their seed business with the mind of serving the farmers besides making profits. She warned that if any one has ill motive of depriving farmers by supplying bad quality seeds, then stern actions would be taken against them and people would be alerted for not buying seeds from those traders. Laying importance for establishing regional cooperation in innovation and transfer of seeds, she said innovation of higher yield varieties of crops should be taken ahead through regional cooperation.
Referring to timely and bold decision of Awami League government for the interests of the people, she said AL government during its previous regime introduced high-yield crops in the country, which have actually helped the farmers in raising production.
"Since our decision was correct, people did not have to pay, rather they were benefited," she asserted.
Dr Dipu Moni said SAARC Agriculture Center contributed in attaining food security in the past and SAARC countries are contributing a lot for raising crops output in the region for this purpose. The present government has been providing supports to the farmers for increasing food output and as part of it subsidies were given to reduce prices of fertilizer and costs of irrigation, she said. FAO Representative to Bangladesh Ad Spijkers in his speech said the growing population pressure on land and water resources means that Bangladesh has to adopt modern, efficient technology in order to maintain growth in agriculture production to achieve and sustain self-sufficiency in food production. Provision of high-quality seed of improved crop varieties is a vital component of the government's strategy, he said adding that FAO, as part of its strong supports to Bangladesh, has recently distributed 65 million tons of BR-47 rice variety in the northern districts.