Staff Reporter:
Environment, Forests, Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan yesterday stressed taking an integrated effort to cope with adverse impacts of climate change on agricultural sector.
Mentioning that all the ministries concerned, including agriculture, water resources and environ-ment, forests and climate change ministries, are working together to this end, she said, adding that a long-term plan will be taken to keep agricultural production sustainable.
Rizwana, also the water resources adviser, made the remarks while speaking, as the chief guest, at a roundtable titled “Impact of Climate Change in Agriculture and Way Forward”.
Bangladesh Agricultural Reporters Forum (BARF) organized the meeting at the national Press Club in Dhaka.
The adviser said agricultural production is declining due to extreme climate events like drought, excessive rainfall, salinity and floods.
She said conducting research on and applying technology in agriculture is very important to re-solve the climate-induced problems.
“All should come forward to produce safe and organic food. Ensuring safe food is everyone’s re-sponsibility. For this reason, organizing safe food fairs is important. We should be aware of the use of pesticides,” Rizwana said.
Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, former president of FBCCI Abdul Awal Mintu and Secretary General of Bangladesh Seed Association Dr Ali Afzal also spoke at the meet-ing with BARF president Rafiqul Islam Sabuj in the chair.