Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) director general said that it is possible to reduce the import dependence of jute seeds to a large extent. Md. Abdul Awal.
He said this at a seminar on the progress of the National Science and Technology (NST) research program for the fiscal year 2023-2024 at the BJRI head office at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital on Thursday (May 9).
BJRI organized this seminar to review the progress and results of nine projects of BJRI under the special grant of Ministry of Science and Technology for the research of researchers.
In the seminar, BJRI Director General said, ‘On the one hand, the research efficiency is increasing in the research of the special grant of the Ministry of Science and Technology, on the other hand, the image of the government in the foreign soil is also shining.’
Dr. Awal said that the demand for seeds in Bangladesh is about 4-5 thousand metric tons. Where 28 percent we produce ourselves. The rest has to be imported from India. As a result, the government has to spend a lot of foreign currency. With the cropping pattern we have discovered, it is possible to reduce the import dependence of jute seed in the country to a great extent. BJRI is working with the slogan ‘Amar Bij Ai Karo’.
He also said that to sustain the environment of the world, jute must be produced. After independence, the land area for jute production in the country was 8 lakh hectares, the production was 12 lakh metric tons. Today, the land area is 7.5 lakh hectares, but the production is 1.6 lakh metric tons. Hopefully, we will soon occupy the first place in jute production in the world.
The former executive chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council was present as the chief guest at the seminar. Wais Kabir. BJRI Director General presided over. Md. Abdul Awal. Executive Director of Agricultural Research Foundation (KGF) was the special guest at the seminar. Nathu Ram Government, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Bidyut Chandra Aich and senior expert of KGF Dr. Manwar Karim Khan.
NH/MAH/MS
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