'Diversify crops to meet nutrition deficiency'

A visitor handles fruits at a three-day fruit exhibition that began on the Krishibid Institution premises in the capital yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

He was inaugurating National Fruits Exhibition 2006 at Krishibid Institution at Farmgate in the city.

The minister said apart from improving the quality of fruits, efforts should be made to invent such varieties which can grow round the year.

He said due to lack of proper post-harvest technology the farmers do not get appropriate price for their products.

They also face problems in conserving their perishable products, he added.

The minister blasted the officials of the ministry and agriculture extension department for not carrying out research work extensively although the government is ready to provide financial support in this regard.

He stressed the need for reinforcing target-based research and said in many cases the officials concerned lack basic information which is quite undesirable.

Presided over by Secretary to agriculture ministry Kazi Abul Kashem, the inaugural function was also addressed by State Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Director General of agriculture extension department Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil and Executive Director of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council M Nurul Alam.

The speakers said around 20 lakh tons of fruits are produced in the country every year which can meet only one-third demand of the total population.

They said the present fruit intake in the country is only 35-40 grams, where as on an average everyone needs to take 115 grams of fruits per day.

Stressing the need to initiate biotechnology and genetic engineering the speakers said the individuals as well as cultivators should be encouraged to plant more fruit trees.

At the exhibition organised by the agriculture extension department, prizes were given to 12 individuals and organisations for their first-rate performance in fruit cultivation.

The prize included certificate, foot pump, cash money and fruit trees.

Besides, deputy directors of agriculture extension department in Chittagong, Mymensingh and Comilla received certificates and sets of books on agriculture as these were considered as the major fruit growing districts.

The three-day exhibition will continue till Sunday from 9:00am to 10:00pm daily.

Over 70 varieties of indigenous fruits including Thia, an Afghan fruit produced in the country, are on display at 41 stalls in the exhibition.