The activities undertaken in agricultural research to make Bangladesh a hunger-free country are commendable.
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Agriculture is the main driving force of Bangladesh's economy. Agriculture has an important role to play in increasing the productivity and income and creating employment in rural areas for the prosperity of a large population. Agriculture contributes 14.10% to the country's GDP and 41% of the country's manpower is engaged in agriculture. Therefore, the development of agriculture is essential for the improvement of the living standards of the people of this country. Ensuring food and nutrition security of our large population is facing challenges in the context of population growth, declining fertility of arable land and soils and changing climate. We need to ensure food and nutrition security by addressing this multidimensional challenge of agriculture.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council is working with 12 research institutes of the National Agricultural Research System to address the challenges in agriculture. On the basis of research priorities, the Council is working towards building a hunger-free country by providing necessary guidelines for enhancing the research capacity of scientists, including formulating research plans, monitoring, evaluating and improving the quality of agricultural research.
Action taken by the Council to address the challenges in agriculture
Preparation of Research Priorities and Policy-Determining Documents: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council has formulated Research Priorities and Vision Document 2030 taking into account the needs of the country and global climate change context by determining the field level and regional needs. This vision document prepared for 12 sub-sectors of agriculture is working as a guideline for the future agricultural research of the country. Besides, it is working to prepare various policy-making documents including the formulation of National Agriculture Policy 2018.
Research Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation: The main task of the Council is to avoid duplication in agricultural research and to provide necessary guidance to research institutes in formulating research activities taking into account the context of climate change. BARC is monitoring and evaluating the research activities of field level nurses across the country with the help of scientists / officials of affiliated organizations. In addition, nurses are playing a helpful role in technology transfer and expansion of the institution.
Human Resource Development Plan and Activities: BARC has formulated Human Resource Development Plan 2025 for short, medium and long term training and higher education to enhance the research capacity of scientists working in the National Agricultural Research System. For the implementation of this plan, under the NATP project funded by revenue and foreign funding for human resource development, arrangements are being made to provide training to agricultural scientists for different periods including the opportunity to obtain PhD / Post Doctorate degree. It is providing basic training to the scientists of the National Agricultural Research System in order to give them a comprehensive idea about administrative and bureaucratic discipline and management. Besides, it is providing assistance to the scientists of the research institutes to increase their skills by creating opportunities for participation in trainings / seminars / workshops at home and abroad for the purpose of building skilled manpower.
National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) Phase-I and II: 107 research sub-projects through National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) Phase-I have been implemented by 12 research institutes and 6 public universities with nurses and 42 transferable technology (s). , Livestock-5, Fisheries-3, Information Technology and others-12) have been invented. Following this, a total of 190 CRG and 39 PBRG research sub-projects are being implemented by various Nurses, Public Universities and other partner institutions through National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) Phase-II.