PM Hands Over 'Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purashkar-1419'

She also called for encouraging use of organic fertilizer saying the issue should be considered seriously in the interest of protecting the fertility of soil, fisheries and sources of the sweet water.

Distributing the 'Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purashkar-1419' here, Sheikh Hasina urged the educated youths not to neglect the agriculture as a profession.

"It's a matter of pride that an educated youth would find self- employment in his paternal farm job applying all modern technologies and related information," she said.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm determination to free Bangladesh from poverty and hunger by 2021 and said her government has envisaged reducing poverty by at least 10 percent in the next four years of its tenure.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury presided over the function while Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Mohammad Sayedul Haque was present as the special guest.

Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture SM Nazmul Islam conducted the award distribution ceremony and read out the credentials of the recipients.

A total of 30 persons and organizations were given the 'Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purashkar-1419' in different categories for their contribution to the respective fields.

Of them, five were given gold, eight silver and 17 bronze medals.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has given utmost priority to agriculture sector aimed at making the country self-reliant in food production, ensuring food security and building food stock for any possible disastrous situation.

In view of this, she said, her government has taken measures for massive support to the agriculture sector to make fertilizer, irrigation, fuel and agro-machineries available for people.

In this regard the Prime Minister said international aid agencies are reluctant to provide any support for our agriculture. Defying their disagreement the government give all assistance to the agriculture sector taking it as a national obligation.

Sheikh Hasina said her government over the last six years has given Taka 43,266 crore agricultural development support in addition to 25 percent subsidy to the agricultural machinery.

Farmers were given Agricultural Components Assistance Card allowing them to open bank accounts at Taka 10 only to avail the assistance, she said.

Usually the co-sharing farmers were barred from giving any bank loan as they could not give any collateral. But the Awami League government broke the tradition allowing the co-sharing farmers to get bank loan at a very soft rate of interest.

The Prime Minister said the agricultural assistance helped constant increase not only of production of rice but also vegetables, fruits, milk, egg, fishes and meat. Bangladesh is now fourth in producing sweet water fishes in the world, she said.

Due to the government support, the Prime Minister said the rice production enhanced to 383.43 lakh metric tonnes in 2013-2014 fiscal year which was 333 lakh metric tonnes in 2008-2009.

Sheikh Hasina said the success of Bangladesh in different socio-economic areas is a surprise for many persons in the field of research as we have proceeded in various index ahead of our neighbours.

Bangladesh could achieve success not in the field of agriculture only, but also in the areas of education, health, women development, communications, creating jobs at home and abroad, improve civic facilities, combat terrorism and building the country as a digital one, she said.

About the introduction of 'Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purashkar' the Prime Minister said the award was introduced in 1973 to encourage agriculture and peasants and ensure their active participation in building a 'Sonar Bangla'.

But after tragic political episode of 1975, the military rulers suspended the award. Awami League government reintroduced the award after coming to power in 1996, she said.

The subsequent BNP-Jamaat government interfered in the fund after change in power in 2001 and slashed the name of Bangabandhu from the prestigious national award, she added.

Congratulating the recipients of the 'Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purashkar-1419', Sheikh Hasina said, the award has expanded the boundary of their responsibilities.

"Now you have to expand your area of activities and inspire people so that they come forward for development of the agriculture and farmers," Sheikh Hasina said.