Shykh Seraj

Over the past 52 years, Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in the agricultural sector, thanks to the hard work and innovation of millions of small farmers, researchers, innovators and government support.

Coral fish, which is called sea bass in Asia, is also known as barramundi in Australia and Bhetki fish in Bangladesh. This tasty fish is usually found in the coastal areas of the country. But nowadays the saltwater fish is being cultivated in freshwater as well

Farmers are true entrepreneurs as progress of future economy of our country depend in their hands.

Many farmers across the country are now becoming interested in commercial cultivation of different fruits and crops.

After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has a huge impact on the global economy, has upset the whole world.

Agriculture in Tangail region has changed a lot in the last three decades.

According to researchers at Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BRFI), more than 150 pearl farmers in 90 upazilas under 41 districts of the country are currently engaged in cultivating about 6,00,000 oysters.

The agriculture sector is one of the key economic pillars of Bangladesh. Just after liberation in 1971, its contribution to GDP was around 60 percent.

It requires direct investment to commercialise and modernise the agriculture sector. Over 40 percent of Bangladesh's total labour force is engaged in the farming sector.

After the spread of the coronavirus across the globe and recent economic downturn amid the climate change, food crisis is still a threat to the world.

Every year since 1992, December 3 has been observed as the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) worldwide. .According to World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with disabilities in the world is about 65 crore (650 million).

One can see the Garo hills, green horizon, vast croplands and ponds after ponds from Balia village in Mymensingh’s Phulpur upazila. Once paddy and jute were the main staple crops of this region, but in the last three decades it has flourished in fish farming. Fish production is increasing here even more as new entrepreneurs continue joining the business.

Riverine lands are naturally fertile and Panchagarh’s Shubhasujon village is no exception as the river Korotoa flows through it. In the past, people used to cultivate rice, nuts and sugarcane in these lands. But, after closure of the sugar mills, cultivation of sugarcane has gradually decreased. Now vast tea gardens lie on these lands. However, apart from the tea gardens, cultivation of different varieties of fruit is also increasing. With the rise of agricultural diversity our food habit is changing. Long ago, we used to see fruit as patient's diet, but gradually fruits have made their way to our breakfast and dinner table. Keeping the demand in mind, cultivation of various foreign fruits is also increasing. Cultivation of malta, guava, dragon, strawberry, pineapple, and avocado are increasing every day.

In an interview in 2010, Ramnivas Agarwala, owner of Annapurna Organic Fertiliser Factory in Nilphamari, said, "Soil is the mother. Soil says you give me 10kg of seeds and one maund of fertiliser. In return, I give you 50 maunds of paddy and 50 maunds of straw. Have you ever wondered where it comes from? It comes from my own body. You do one thing; you keep the paddy and give me the straw. You are my children. I wonder what will happen to you when I (soil) will die. So, keep me alive for your own sake.'' The philosophical thoughts from Ramnivas inspired me.

Nurul Haque received the gold medal for successfully producing Mola fish fingerlings at a hatchery, after collecting the fish species from natural water resources and different waterbodies. Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque handed him the award a few days back. It was Nurul’s fifth national award.

Nowadays, there are thousands of successful women farmers across the country and many of them have become entrepreneurs and created employment opportunities for both men and women. Johora Akhter is one such innovative woman farmer.

Adverse effect of climate change is affecting the whole world. While global warming, increase in salinity, rise in sea level and destruction of biodiversity are affecting us, the world is facing another bigger challenge of ensuring food security. Of the 7.9 billion people in the world, about 850 million are still facing hunger. In Bangladesh, over 20 million people do not have well access to food. As a result, One out of six people in the country is suffering from malnutrition. Rice is the staple food in your daily diet. I went to Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Gazipur in the first week of June this year.

Farming means everything to Habibul Bahar Sujan. The successful young man wanted to be a farmer since his childhood. But success does not always come easily. People have to be skilled to be successful.

Farming means everything to Habibul Bahar Sujan. The successful young man wanted to be a farmer since his childhood.

In April this year, I had the opportunity to visit the Netherlands, a country much advanced in agricultural technology.