Now it is high time to move towards mechanization of agricultural production, food processing, storage and testing, said Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin on Tuesday.
He said skills development of farmers should get priority to increase agricultural productivity and thus reducing the cost of cultivation.
The chief of the country's apex trade body made this comment during a preparatory meeting about the upcoming "Indo-Bangladesh Agri Mechanization Summit (IBAM)" held at the FBCCI office.
While presiding over the meeting, FBCCI vice president MA Momen said: "India is one of the leading countries in the production of Agro-machineries. Their skills and technology can contribute to the agricultural mechanization of Bangladesh. In this regard, the IBAM will create an opportunity to develop cooperation between the stakeholders of the both countries."
Vice-president Amin Helaly said, "Agro-mechanization is a burning issue in Bangladesh now. Mechanization in the post-harvesting period is more essential here. Due to the labor crisis and poor processing capacity, a significant number of crops are damaged at the farm-level. The summit will be the knowledge-sharing hub for the local Agro-machinery manufacturers."
The "Indo-Bangladesh Agri Mechanization Summit" will be held on the 27, 28, and 29 of January 2023 at the International Convention City Bashundhara, Dhaka in cooperation with FBCCI and the Indian High Commission, Dhaka.
While speaking about the Summit the Secretary of Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA) Atreyee Talapatra said that the Summit is going to be held under the auspices of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and its sister concern, the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA), India in cooperation with FBCCI and the Indian High Commission, Dhaka.
The event aims to create agro-mechanized ecosystem in Bangladesh that in turn will lead to increased food production.
FBCCI Director Dr. Ferdousi Begum said, "We don't want to be just buyers of Agro-equipment. We urge manufacturers to invest more in the agricultural machineries sector."
The agro-entrepreneurs urged the manufacturers to produce customized equipment for farmers by considering the local farming culture.
FBCCI director MGR Nasir Majumder, Bijoy Kumar Kejriwal, Hafez Harun, Md. Naser, the head of Bangladesh- Farm Equipment sector of the Mahindra and Mahindra Company Sourabh Biswas, and distinguished guests were present, among others, at the meeting.