-Dr. Susmita Das
Building a hunger-free world by ensuring food and nutritional security for everyone in Bangladesh is one of the prime goals of Sustainable Developments 2030. Father of our Nation,Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman drafted the 1972 constitution laying down the nutritional security for the citizens of the land. He thought, “The primary duty of the state was to improve nutrition and health of the people.”Bangabandhu always emphasized on developing an agro-based economy to ensure adequate food to feed the ever growing population. Without hesitation he declared Green Revolution for agricultural development. That far-sighted decision marked the beginning of sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh. Thus helped introduce science-based farming techniques and reviving agricultural research institutes for modern agricultural research.
Bangabandhu realized that research in agricultural sector was crying need to boost production. Therefore, agricultural scientists think establishing Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council by Bangabandhu in 1973 to be the most remarkable event of starting modern agriculture in the post-independence period. Moreover, BARC was aimed to coordinate the whole agricultural research with other national agricultural research institutes. National Agricultural Research System was formed in 1996 on BARC Act. At present, BARC, as an apex body of NARS, allocates all research resources to these institutions. NARS comprises 12 public research institutes under five ministries. BARC coordinates, monitors and evaluates the research activities of NARS institutes through higher training and research programs support. Under the leadership of BARC, the Fertilizer standardization committee recommends commercial fertilizers. BARC also acts as technical body of the ministry to recommend suitable crop varieties in consultation with Seed Certification Agency and other organizations. Based on the recommendations of the seed sub-committee, the national seed board approves seed for cultivation. Similarly, in collaboration with DAE, BARC approves pesticides for crop production. Recently BARC has published 100 proven technologies as ‘100 Technology Atlas’unveiled by Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that claims much appreciation.
Since its inception, BARC has been providing necessary guidelines to 12 research institutes and affiliates under the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in formulating agricultural research plans, setting priorities, coordinating programs, monitoring and evaluation, human resource development and improving agricultural research. In the last 10 years, BARC has released more than 160 crop varieties developed by various agricultural research institutes to ensure the yield and quality of 8 notified crops (paddy, wheat, potato, sugarcane, jute, kenaf and mesta). BARC has provided financial and technical assistance for higher study fellowships and short-term training to 51,866 scientists / officers in various fields for the purpose of skill development of the agricultural scientists.
Fertilizer Recommendations "Handbook" formulated and updated by BARC has been playing an important role in fertilizer management in the country since 1989. Besides, the Council has prepared Agricultural Mechanization Road map 2021, 2031 and 2041. It has also published ' The 100 Agricultural Technology Atlas' with the best innovations of 12 public research institutes under the National Agricultural Research System. In fact, the Council has been making significant contributions to food self-sufficiency and food nutrition security in the country.
As a matter of pride, BARC has been awarded with the highest national recognition, the Independence Award 2021 for its continuous success in agricultural research and training. This rare achievement under the dynamic leadership of BARC’s present Executive Chairman, Dr. S. M. Bokthiar is highly appreciated at home and abroad.
By the relentless efforts of agricultural scientists,Bangladesh has gained tenth position in food grain production in the world. In 2018-2019, the target for granular food grains was 415.84 lakh metric tons against 432.11. Bangladesh now ranks third in rice production and freshwater inland fish production in global ranking.Due to the tremendous progress in research, today Bangladesh is transforming subsistence agriculture into commercial one. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute developed 105 high yielding rice varieties including salinity, drought, water logging tolerant and zinc rich ones. In addition, these various nutrient rich food commodities are contributing to the improvement of dietary items. The world's most advanced bio fortification and GM technology are being used to ensure safer and nutritious food. Since its inception, BARI has developed more than 1130 technologies including 579 high yielding crop varieties. Short duration mustard and pulses enabled to meet protein demand. All these credits are due to the proper coordination of BARC with BARI.
With research coordination assistance of BARC, Wheat and Maize Research Institute developed 36 notable wheat varieties. Among them, zinc-rich barley wheat-33 is significant in terms of nutrition. Similarly, BINA developed 112 modern crop varieties with high yielding and zinc and iron rich ones. Besides, as a result of continuous research, Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute developed 48 sugarcane varieties with some high in sugar recovery and disease resistance. Today Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute with research toil has been able to meet the demand of animal origin protein. As a result, fish production has increased from 26.01 lakh tons to 41.34 in last ten years.
The country needs to be more sensitive to food and nutrition security by making agricultural research more advanced. The National Agricultural Policy 2018 was formulated by MoA and BARC to address the emerging challenges in agricultural. The policy adequately focused on the conservation of natural resources, increase in cropping intensity and introduction of climate smart agriculture practices. Enhancing research knowledge and skill was also emphasized to achieve the desired goal.Generating farm income is a major task of research reflected in the policy.
Today, the country is on the path of development under the able leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of Bangabandhu. MoA has adopted many action plans and strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and implement the Eighth Five Year Plan under the Perspective Plan of 2021-2041&Delta Plan 2100. A work plan has been formulated challenging Covid 19. Through implementing these plans, BARC will be able to ensure food and nutrition security of the country.
BARC is now more strengthened with international funds and grants that assist BARC to accelerate research systems with advanced global science through Covid 19 crisis.Recently the University of Saskatchewan, Canada has established a Bangabondhu Chair in its premises due to its MoA with BARC as a human resource development program. With other national agricultural research institutes BARC relentlessly tries to materialize Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla to be a high-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed one by 2041 with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.Who will not be the part of this success story?
The writer is Principal Documentation Officer, Agricultural Information Center, BARC
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