A Correspondent:
Cumilla: Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid yesterday said the government will impart training to imams and muezzins to raise awareness on production of safe and chemical-free food and use of modern agricultural technologies.
“As imams and muezzins are connected with the mosques countrywide, they can play an important role in raising public awareness about agriculture and safe food production along with making themselves economically self-reliant,” he said.
Aminur was addressing a conference organized by the Bangladesh Hafez Welfare Foundation at the Cumilla Town Hall ground yesterday.
The minister stressed reducing the excessive use of pesticides in agriculture to produce safe and chemi-cal-free crops.
Noting that in the past, farmers produced various crops without using chemical inputs, the minister said an environment-friendly agricultural system should be developed combining that traditional experience with modern technology.
Generally agriculture officers regularly advise farmers on modern agricultural technologies and produc-tion methods, he said adding that if imams and muezzins are also involved in this effort, awareness mes-sages about safe food production can reach people more quickly.
Hafez Mawlana Md Tajul Islam presided over the conference while Cumilla City Corporation adminis-trator Md. Yusuf Molla also spoke at the event.
Later, the minister handed over certificates and commemorative awards to students who passed the third Hifzul Quran Scholarship Examination on the occasion.
