The use of modern machinery could reduce production costs and save farmers' time while bolstering production in the agricultural sector, speakers said at a conference yesterday.

The two-day event, titled "International Conference on Agricultural Machinery and Bioresource Engineering," is being held at the Syed Nazrul Islam Conference Hall on the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) premises.

Organised by BAU's Department of Farm Power and Machinery in collaboration with the Bangladesh Society of Agricultural Machinery and Bioresources Engineering, the event focused on pressing issues such as smart agriculture, farm mechanisation, and sustainable farming practices.

Jiaoqun Shi, the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Bangladesh, underscored the importance of mechanisation in boosting productivity and ensuring sustainability in agriculture.

Experts said farmers would benefit if they had access to modern technologies and expressed hope that these technologies would reach farmers if the government provided support, including soft-term loans.

Regarding drones that spray fertilisers and insecticides, experts noted that they could help farmers use necessary inputs at safe levels, reducing production costs while improving harvest quality.

Emphasising the transformative role of advanced machinery in Bangladesh's agricultural sector, Subrata Ranjan Das, deputy managing director of ACI Motors, discussed the use of mechanised methods to reduce the cost of potato production.

"In recent years, farmers, especially in the haor areas, have been using harvesters to reap aman paddy smoothly, avoiding the severe labour crisis," he said. "Farmers are also benefiting from comparatively lower costs to transport their harvest home."

The conference was inaugurated by Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Marking the occasion, a farm machinery fair was also held.

Visitors, including farmers, were captivated by innovative agricultural technologies, including the Yanmar Potato Planter, Forage Maize Harvester, agricultural drones, and other advanced machinery aimed at improving farming efficiency and sustainability.