President M Abdul Hamid today urged all concerned to be aware of protecting biodiversity and invent disaster-resilient crops varieties to face the negative impact of climate change on agriculture, reports BSS.
“All have to be aware of protecting biodiversity . . . You have to fix suitable techniques to face the natural calamities and invent disaster-resilient varieties of crops,” the President said while addressing the 57th founding anniversary function of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on its campus here this afternoon.
Noting that negative impact of climate change is a reality at present, President Hamid stressed the need for giving highest priority to resolve the problems caused by climate change affect through upholding the country’s attained successes in agricultural sector.
“Haor people depend on only Boro paddy, but we have to reduce their dependency on it,” he said, asking agriculturists, agri-scientists and all concerned to come up with time-befitting solutions in this regard.
The President put emphasis on ensuring the products’ fair price of farmers to continue the success of agricultural production as farmers would get inspiration in this way.
Apart from the government initiatives, the President also urged all concerned to think of preserving seasonal fruits and other agricultural products which usually get damaged due to the lack of proper preservation.
Abdul Hamid, also the BAU chancellor, further asked all agriculturists and agri-scientists to be more careful of executing of Agriculture Policy undertaken by the incumbent government.
Lauding different research and academic activities of the BAU since it was established on august 18 in 1961, he said a university must maintain its individual quality to survive in the tough global competition in the modern age of globalization and an era of economic knowledge.
“A university can be specified through ensuring its institutional usefulness, quality and international character . . . And I’m pleased to know this university as the higher seat of agricultural education is always very careful for its academic and research activities,” the President observed.
Terming Bangladesh an instance of “Development Surprise” across the world, he said the present government is heading towards tremendous socio-economic development being imbued with the spirit of 1971 Liberation War and ideals of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Bangladesh is now on the highway of development in line with the ‘Vision - 2021’ and ‘Vision-2041′ . . . We have to win the long-term development war,” the President added.
The President also laid foundation stone of “Bangladesh Haor and Char Development Institute” and visited the technology fair, jointly organized by varsity’ administration and BAU alumni association.
Former VC Dr MA Sattar Mandal presented his keynote paper while Vice-Chancellor of BAU Prof Dr Mohammad Ali Akbor presided over the occasion.
Religious Affairs Minister Principal Matiur Rahman, BAU Alumni Association President Agriculturist Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzak, MP, Pro VC Prof Dr M Jasimuddin Khan and Agriculturist Badiuzzaman Badsha, among others, also spoke on the occasion.