BARC, PKSF inks for inclusive agricultural growth
Business Desk :
Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) will work jointly to strengthen links between agricultural research and extension to achieve inclusive growth.
Although agriculture is a key pillar of food security and employment, it contributes only about 12 percent to GDP, while nearly 47 per cent of the country’s workforce depends on the sector.
The sector faces major challenges, including a low growth rate of 3.21 per cent, shrinking farmland, declining soil fertility, and rising production costs. These issues were discussed at a meeting held on Thursday at PKSF Bhaban-1 in the city.
PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan chaired the meeting while Emeritus Professor Dr A N M Mahbub-ul Alam of Kansas State University and BARC Executive Chairman Md Abdus Salam spoke.
PKSF Managing Director Md Fazlul Kader delivered the welcome speech. Former BARC Executive Chairman Dr Wais Kabir and Wave Foundation Executive Director Mohsin Ali also spoke at the meeting.
Dr Mahbub-ul Alam said institutions often hesitate to involve capable partners, which prevents the use of promising talent. He stressed the need for balanced coordination between public and private initiatives to ensure food and nutrition security for the country.
Md Abdus Salam said the goals of modern agriculture are higher yields, better nutrition, environmental protection, and improved quality of life.
He said that BARC’s ongoing research would be more effective if expanded to the field level through cooperation with PKSF.
He said PKSF could support the government in implementing the long-term plan, ‘Transforming Bangladesh Agriculture: Outlook 2050’. PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan said sustainable and inclusive growth is not possible without addressing structural challenges.
He expressed the hope that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PKSF and BARC would be signed soon. PKSF Managing Director Md Fazlul Kader said the Foundation and its partner organisations provide nearly 50 per cent of total agricultural credit in the country.