A three-day-long 6th ‘National Vegetable Fair-2022’ began on Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) premises at Farmgate in the city on Monday (Feb 28). Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque inaugurated the fair with the theme ‘Cultivation of safe vegetable to ensure health and nutrition available for round the year’ (Nirapad Shabji Chash, Shastho Pusti Baro Mash), said a press release.
Addressing the inaugural function as the chief guest, the minister said, “We achieved self-sufficiency in granular food. We are now working to ensure safe and nutritious food”.
Since the present government is working relentlessly to produce vegetables and fruits, he said, as a result, the production of vegetables has increased by seven times in the last 12 years.
At present, Bangladesh is in the third position in the world in vegetable cultivation with the production of 1.96 crore lakh tonnes of vegetables, Razzaque said.
Noting that the government is working to control the price of vegetables, the minister said, “All of us, including law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Commerce, have to work so that the price of vegetables remain under the purchasing capacity of the people”.
Later, Razzaque visited the stalls took part in the fair.
Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam, Additional Secretary Md Hasanuzzaman Kallol, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Executive Chairman Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Director General (DG) Md Benojir Alam were present at the inaugural function, among others.
The fair will remain open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. A total of 52 government and private institutions are taking part in the fair, which will continue till Mar 2.
Later, a seminar titled ‘Role of vegetables in nutrition safety and agricultural transformation’ was held at KIB auditorium while Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque addressed it as the chief guest.
Speaking at the seminar, the minister said, “Though there is a possibility of hiking the price of vegetables ahead of the upcoming holy Ramadan, I can assure you that unless there is a natural disaster, the prices of our vegetables will not go up during the Ramadan”.
Presided over by Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam, Additional Secretary Md Hasanuzzaman Kallol, BARC Executive Chairman Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar and DAE DG Md Benojir Alam spoke at the seminar as special guests. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute's (BARI) Horticultural Research Center Chief Executive Officer (vegetable division) Dr Ferdousi Islam presented the keynote paper in the seminar while former DG of DAE Dr Md Abdul Muid and Chairman of Colonel International Dr Md Saleh Ahmed took part as the discussants.
