President Abdul Hamid on Monday underscored the need for giving attention to save the indigenous varieties of crops from extinction for maintaining the country’s agricultural heritage.
“We should be more attentive so that indigenous varieties of crops do not extinct. We have to keep in mind that our own agriculture system has the continuation of thousand-year excellence. It is needed to put in efforts to maintain the originality of these local crops by utilizing its genes,” he said.
The President said this while addressing the first convocation of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) on its campus.
A total of 2625 students received degrees at the convocation. Twenty- two students were given gold medals for their outstanding performance.
In the convocation, SAU conferred Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with honorary “Doctor of the University Degree” as recognition of her support to higher education, contribution to public life from across the political spectrum and improvement of higher education. The university authorities will hand over the degree to the Prime Minister later.
Abdul Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, said presently the agriculture is dependent on science and technology. All countries in the world continue their endeavours to take the agriculture to a new level through research.
“So, the highest emphasis will have to put on research for the development of agriculture and this research have to be carried out taking the food demand of the people, scarcity of land, existing climate and environment into consideration,” he said. He said it is important to reach agricultural knowledge to the grassroots so the farmers can apply new technologies for boosting crop production.
“I urge agricultural universities to ramp up time-befitting agricultural research and extension programmes according to the demands of the country and its people,” the President said.
Pointing at the graduates, Abdul Hamid said, “I hope, you will be able to bring about revolution in the country’s agriculture sector by utilizing your acquired knowledge, competence and innovative powers.”
Terming farmers as the real patriot and friend of the nation, he said the nation expects the persons who are passing out from the university receiving graduation and advanced degrees will employ their merits for the development of agriculture and stand by the farmers.
The country’s agriculture is now facing challenges due to various reasons made by nature and people, he said, adding that the amount of arable land is shrinking for urbanization and climate change.
