Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, has highlighted the critical importance of field-level operations in agricultural extension.
Speaking at a regional workshop held on February 12, 2025, he emphasized that while research institutions in Bangladesh are continuously developing new crop varieties, the focus must also be placed on ensuring these innovations are effectively applied on the ground.
The workshop, titled “Expansion of Popular Varieties Developed by BINA in the Mymensingh Region and Inclusion in Crop Rotation,” was organized jointly by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and the Department of Agricultural Extension in the Mymensingh region.
It took place at the BINA auditorium in Mymensingh and aimed to address how newly developed crop varieties could be incorporated into local farming practices for enhanced agricultural productivity.
In his speech, Dr. Emdad Ullah pointed out that while thousands of new crop varieties are developed each year by various research-based institutions in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector, the real challenge lies in monitoring their performance at the field level.
“It is essential to continuously assess which varieties are performing well on the ground,” Dr. Emdad Ullah said, stressing that innovation alone is not enough.
Effective management of these innovations at the field level is crucial for ensuring that farmers benefit from advancements in agriculture.
The event was chaired by Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of BINA, who was joined by several distinguished guests, including Mr. Ruhul Amin Khan, Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC); Mr. Saiful Alam, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension; Dr. Nazmun Nahar Karim, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council; and Dr. Md. Abdullah Yusuf Akhand, Director General of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).
Farmers, agricultural officers, and entrepreneurs from various districts and upazilas of the Greater Mymensingh region attended the event, underscoring the importance of collaboration between researchers, extension officers, and local farming communities.
This workshop served as a platform for discussing the practical aspects of crop variety expansion, focusing on the successful integration of these varieties into crop rotation systems to boost yields and ensure sustainability.
Dr. Emdad Ullah’s remarks reflect the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture to bridge the gap between agricultural research and practical, field-level application.
The emphasis on field operations is a reminder that agricultural development in Bangladesh will depend not only on innovations but also on their effective implementation across the country’s vast farming communities.
