Experts for safe food production through organic farming

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DHAKA, Nov 21, 2017 (BSS) – Agriculture experts at a seminar in the city today underscored the need for ensuring safe food production by using the organic cultivation system.

They said currently 87 countries across the globe are farming following the organic policy and standard.

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) organized the seminar titled “National Organic Agriculture Policy-2016: Expectations and Future Plan” at the conference room of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) in the city’s Farmgate area.

BARI Director General Dr Abul Kalam Azad presided over the seminar. Agriculture Ministry Additional Secretary Md Mosharaf Hossain, BARC Executive Chairman Dr Bhagya Rani Banik and Director Dr Md Aziz Zilani, former IRRI representative Dr Md Jaynal Abedin, Agricultural Research Foundation Executive Director Dr Wayes Kabir and noted agriculturalists Ahsan Ullah, Kamruzzaman Mredha, Ataur Rahman, Suraiya Begum, Kakali Khan and Kuhinur Islam addressed the seminar, among others.

BARI Senior Scientific Officer Dr Md Khurshed Alam presented a keynote paper on the topic in the seminar.

Addressing the seminar, Md Mosharaf Hossain said, “The agriculture sector is the main driving force of our economy. About two-thirds employments are directly and indirectly depended on the sector”.

“We have to go forward to face the challenges of the 21st century giving priority to the agriculture sector,” he added.

The speakers suggested forming a time-befitting agriculture policy and national organic agriculture policy and urged the concerned people to spread out the organic cultivation system largely across the country.

They called for giving emphasis on increasing safe food production and making the farmers aware about the National Organic Agriculture Policy-2016.

About 100 representatives from different agencies and organizations took part in the seminar.