Dhaka, Apr 10 (UNB)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for concerted efforts to tackle the challenges in the agriculture field in South Asian region.

The Prime Minister made the call when she was addressing as chief guest the opening ceremony of the three-day SAARC Seed Congress and Exhibition 2011 at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre today.

Agriculture scientists, representatives of various national and international research institutions and high government officials from the SAARC member countries are participating in the Seed congress and exhibition which will continue till April 12.

The slogan of the SAARC congress is ‘’Good seed, good crop’’.

“As it is not possible for one single country to face all the agricultural challenges, I had proposed to establish SAARC Seed Bank at the last SAARC Summit,” the Prime Minister said.

Hasina said if the Seed Bank is established, the member countries would be able to exchange quality seeds easily which will ultimately increase food production in the region.

“Balance will also come in the laws on seeds in the countries which will make exchange of seeds and germplasm much easier,” she added.

The Prime Minister hoped that the proposed Seed Bank would be established soon and will make significant contribution to attain regional food security.

She said Bangladesh has to attain food security as it is not possible to remove food crisis only through importing.

The Prime Minister laid emphasis on using hybrid seeds, modern technology and effective strategy to attain food security for all.

“At the same time we have to be highly careful so that our environment and ecology are not harmed by any means,” she cautioned.

The Prime Minister further asked the scientists to invent such crop varities that will achieve maximum production on limited land.

She said when Bangladesh attained independence in 1971 its population was some seven and half crore while population has become more than double now.

“But agricultural lands had decreased gradually. So we have to produce maximum crops at limited lands,” the Prime Minister asserted.

She said every year some 1 lakh hectors land is being out of agriculture sector due to industrialization, housing and river erosion.

The Prime Minister asked all authorities concerned to keep in mind the interests of all marginal farmers so that no modern technology becomes threat to their livelihoods.

“We have to keep it in mind that most of our farmers are small and marginal,” she said.

Referring to local varieties of rice, the Prime Minister said many of the local varieties are now almost abolished just because these are not highly productive.

“But we have to invent the methods how to turn these local varieties into hybrid,” she said.

At the same time, gene of the local crop varieties have to be preserved so that these do not get vanished, she said.

“It has to be ensured that the intellectual property of the crops does not go to others’ hand,” she said.

The Prime Minister also issued strong warning against cheating the farmers with low quality seeds.

“Due to modern technology,the control of seeds does not remain in the hands of farmers, rather they have to depend on the seeds produced by various companies. In many cases, the farmers have to suffer a lot,” she said.

Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Regional Business Line Leader of IFC, South Asia William Trant Beloe, Joint Director, Research of Indian Agriculture Institute and member of SAARC Seed Forum Dr Malavika Dadlani, convenor of Bangladesh Seed Association Mahbub Anam also spoke at the function.

Director General of Seed wing of Agriculture Ministry Anwar Faruque presented keynote paper at the function presided over by Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry C Q K Mustak Ahmed.

The Prime Minister later visited the stalls of the exhibition.