Saarc countries need to work together to innovate crop varieties and production technologies and exchange them to tackle hidden hunger in the region, said Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organised by the Saarc Agriculture Centre (SAC) on the occasion of the 37th Saarc Charter Day at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium in Dhaka today.

"For sustainable development of agriculture, we have to go for modern technology agriculture. All modern technologies including greenhouse, glasshouse technology should be spread among the farmers. Farmers have to be trained in this regard. The Saarc Forum can play an important role in this," he said.

Razzak further said, "We have been able to ensure granular food to the people of the country. But we could not ensure enough nutritious food still. Many people have low incomes and cannot afford to buy nutritious food with limited income."

The government is working to ensure nutritious food for all and Saarc countries have the opportunity to work together on these issues, he added.

Ajantha de Silva, director general of the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka, presented the keynote paper at the seminar titled "Strategies for Resolving Hidden Hunger in Saarc Countries".