Fakhrul urges safer, sustainable farming

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called for greater awareness among farmers and other stakeholders to curb the excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture.

“Excessive and unnecessary use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is causing long-term and severe damage to soil health, the environment and public health,” he said.

The President made the remarks when a delegation from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.

President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

Fakhrul urged agricultural universities and relevant institutions to work together to raise farmers’ awareness about the harmful effects of excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

He also stressed the effective field-level application of research-based technologies, safe food production and environment-friendly agricultural practices to develop a sustainable and modern agricultural system.

The President called for closer coordination among agricultural education, research and extension activities.

During the meeting, the delegation briefed him on the overall activities of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.

The delegation was led by university Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Abdul Latif.
Secretaries to the President’s Office were present at the meeting.