DHAKA, Jan 10, 2023 (BSS) - Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and 
Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin today said skills development of 
farmers should get priority to increase agricultural productivity and thus 
reducing the cost of cultivation.

He also said Bangladesh has a lot of potentials in the agriculture sector and 
now there is a need to move towards mechanization of agricultural production, 
food processing, storage and testing. 

The chief of the country's apex trade body made this comment during a 
preparatory meeting about the upcoming "Indo-Bangladesh Agri Mechanization 
Summit (IBAM)" held at the FBCCI office, said a press release.
 
While presiding over the meeting, FBCCI vice president MA Momen said: "India 
is one of the leading countries in the production of Agro-machineries. Their 
skills and technology can contribute to the agricultural mechanization of 
Bangladesh. In this regard, the IBAM will create an opportunity to develop 
cooperation between the stakeholders of the both countries."

Vice-president Amin Helaly said, "Agro-mechanization is a burning issue in 
Bangladesh now. Mechanization in the post-harvesting period is more essential 
here. Due to the labor crisis and poor processing capacity, a significant 
number of crops are damaged at the farm-level. The summit will be the 
knowledge-sharing hub for the local Agro-machinery manufacturers."

The "Indo-Bangladesh Agri Mechanization Summit" will be held on the 27, 28, 
and 29 of January 2023 at the International Convention City Bashundhara, 
Dhaka in cooperation with FBCCI and the Indian High Commission, Dhaka.

While speaking about the Summit the Secretary of Tractor and Mechanization 
Association (TMA) Atreyee Talapatra said that the Summit is going to be held 
under the auspices of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and its 
sister concern, the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA), India in 
cooperation with FBCCI and the Indian High Commission, Dhaka.

The event aims to create agro-mechanized ecosystem in Bangladesh that in turn 
will lead to increased food production.

FBCCI Director Dr. Ferdousi Begum said, "We don't want to be just buyers of 
Agro-equipment. We urge manufacturers to invest more in the agricultural 
machineries sector."

The agro-entrepreneurs urged the manufacturers to produce customized 
equipment for farmers by considering the local farming culture.

FBCCI director MGR Nasir Majumder, Bijoy Kumar Kejriwal, Hafez Harun, Md. 
Naser, the head of Bangladesh- Farm Equipment sector of the Mahindra and 
Mahindra Company Sourabh Biswas, and distinguished guests were present, among 
others, at the meeting.