Farmers' children should not leave farming: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the children of farmers should not leave the farming sector, to make best use of the knowledge they have inherited from their parents for the greater good.

After completing their education, the farmers' children should not have any negative attitude towards the profession, she said. "We are modernising our agriculture and providing equipment to the farmers."

The premier spoke while launching digital platforms—Krishi Batayon and Krishak Bandhu Phone Seba—for expansion of e-agriculture services across the country, through a videoconference from her official residence at Gono Bhaban in Dhaka.

"I think this (agriculture) is a sacred profession and all need to get involved in agriculture."

Agricultural activities play a big role to ensure food security, she said.

The prime minister said the government has been working to improve the living standards of the general mass with the help of ICT.

For the purpose, Krishi Batayan and Krishok Bandhu Phone Sheba have been launched to provide non-stop advice and services to the farmers on problems and prospects of agriculture, she said.

Hasina asked the authorities concerned to keep provisions to record questions and answers of the researchers, extension workers, teachers and farmers and preserve those in Krishi Batayan for future use.

Besides, steps were also taken to provide khas land to the landless people and build cluster villages to rehabilitate the homeless, she said. Hasina said her government had implemented various programmes like research on agriculture and creating opportunities for the farmers, which helped the country become self-reliant in food production.

The government now wants to continue running such programmes to boost the agriculture sector, she said, adding that over 5,275 digital centres have been set up across the country from where anyone can get any information related to agriculture.

The digital platform was developed by the A2i of the Prime Minister's Office in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension.

The programme was launched as a pilot project for the upazilas in Kushtia and 30 more upazilas across the country. Krishi Batayan has been developed by including geographical features of various regions, districts and upazilas, nature of lands, orientation of crops as well as successes, challenges and prospects of agriculture.

Sub-assistant agriculture officer, agriculture extension officer and upazila agriculture officers will be there to provide services through cellphones of the farmers enlisted with Krishi Batayan.

Any farmer can seek advice from the officers by dialling 3331 from their mobile phones.

The unattended calls will remain recorded and the caller will get desired answers through the next voice SMS from the agriculture officials.

The prime minister praised the roles of the agriculture officers in solving the problems of farmers in rural areas.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury also spoke at the programme.