Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque today said a dynamic change must be brought to the country's agriculture applying biotechnology to boost agricultural production as this sector has been facing various challenges due to depletion of arable land and climate change.

"By applying biotechnology, a dynamic change must be brought to agriculture to boost agricultural production," he told a seminar at CIRDAP International Conference Centre here.

Bangladesh Agricultural Journalist Forum (BAJF) arranged the seminar on 'Agricultural Transformation in Agriculture: Contribution of Kazi M Badruddoza'.

Chaired by BAJF President Golam Iftekhar Mahmud, the seminar was addressed, among others, by former Director General of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Krishibid Md Hamidur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir, Director General of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Dr Debasish Sarker, NRBC Bank Chairman Parvez Tamal and Managing Director & CEO of ACI Agribusinesses Dr F H Ansarey.

BAJF General Secretary Shahanuare Shaid Shahin moderated the seminar.

Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Razzaque said Bangladesh has already achieved self sufficiency in cereal food production. "This year, we did not import rice. We hope that we will not need importing rice this year," he added.

He said the prices of food grains are volatile at globe market due to Russia-Ukraine war, while India has imposed restriction on rice export. "The price of rice is downtrend in the country due to availability of rice," the agriculture minister said.

About agricultural transformation, he said Bangladesh should be modernised its agriculture to face the global challenges.

"We must mechanise our agriculture by using modern technology as the country's agriculture sector has been facing various challenges due to climate change and the decline in arable land," said Dr Razzaque, also the Awami League presidium member.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always thinks of agriculture as she loves it.

Recalling the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the development of Bangladesh's agriculture, the minister said Bangabandhu allocated Taka 101 crore, out of total budget of Taka 786 crore, in the country's first budget.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also gives importance to agriculture while announcing national budgets," he added.

About the contribution of Kazi M Badruddoza to the field of agriculture, Dr Razzaque said Badruddoza was a visionary one and a dreamer, and he was a significant contributor to the transformation of Bangladesh's agriculture.

"In development of the country's agriculture, the name of Badruddoza will remain inscribed with golden alphabets," he added.

Kazi M Badruddoza was a Bangladeshi agronomist who is credited with using Agricultural Genetics and Plant Pathology to extensively increase agricultural production in Bangladesh. He served as a National Scientist Emeritus for the National Agricultural Research System of Bangladesh. He discovered a variety of guava called Kazipeyara after his name.