Dhaka: Against the backdrop of climate change, experts have emphasized the importance of innovation and the cultivation of stress-tolerant and disease-resistant crops to boost agricultural production and ensure the country’s food security.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, experts highlighted the need to adapt to a changing climate through continuous innovation and the development of time-befitting, need-based technologies to sustain and increase crop production. Dr. MA Mazid, an award-winning agricultural scientist, underscored the importance of promoting stress-tolerant and disease-resistant crops among farmers. Dr. Mazid, who is also a former Chief Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, noted that climate change is continuously affecting agriculture, irrigation, ecosystems, biodiversity, and groundwater levels.
The challenges posed by seasonal changes in rainfall, flooding, and dry seasons, particularly in the north-western regions, necessitate the development of stress-tolerant crop varieties to sustain food production. Dr. Mazid warned that, although climate change cannot be mitigated overnight, agricultural production must continue and increase.
Md. Mamunur Rashid, a PhD Fellow at Dinajpur Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology, noted that the northern region is experiencing unusual climate changes impacting irrigation, agriculture, and ecosystems. Rashid emphasized the urgency of developing stress-tolerant crops to cope with environmental challenges such as floods, droughts, and declining groundwater levels.
Dr. Tuhin Wadud, an environmental expert and professor at Begum Rokeya University, highlighted the degradation of water resources, which exacerbates the situation. He called for efforts to revitalize water resources and develop technologies to cultivate stress-tolerant crops year-round to achieve food security.
Rashid warned that without adequate measures to develop stress-tolerant crops, the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture could worsen. However, he lauded the success achieved by farmers in cultivating newly developed stress-tolerant crop varieties, which has already contributed to increased food production.
Md. Afzal Hossain, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for the Rangpur region, described the historical context of climate change and its adverse effects. He noted that the government continues to implement programs to develop and cultivate stress-tolerant and disease-resistant crop varieties to address these challenges and support the growing population.