'Expedite research on minor crops'

"Despite an increase in the production of rice during the last couple of years, we are still lagging behind in producing different minor crops such as ginger, garlic, onion, chilli and pulses against their local demand," he said.

The minister was inaugurating as the chief guest a three-day training course on knowledge Bank-based Aman Rice Production at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).

Expressing satisfaction over onion production, he hoped that the country is likely to be self-sufficient in onion production within the next two years. "It would not be impossible to boost production of other minor crops if we can ensure optimum use of knowledge in this regard," he added.

Referring to the newly introduced electronic rice knowledge bank, the minister suggested that the scientists of BRRI should update data of the bank regularly. "Otherwise, this effort will not bring any fruitful results for the users".

Presided over by Director General of BRRI Dr M Mohiul Hoque, the function was also addressed by Director General of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Ibrahim Khalil, IRRI Representative Dr Noel P Magor, Chief Scientific Officer of BRRI Dr Mosharraf Hossain and Director (Research) of BRRI Dr MA Baki.

Rice Knowledge Bank is an electronic knowledge hub to communicate updated rice information to extension agents and farmers.

The BRRI scientists said that the knowledge bank would help reduce knowledge gap between researchers and farmers. The web-based BRRI Rice Knowledge Bank contains 210-page fact sheets under 29 modules for Boro and Aman rice.

The minister also inaugurated the newly established BRRI Gene bank on the BRRI campus.