Workshop on strategic planning for high tech agriculture education begins

A two-day long workshop on strategic planning for high tech agriculture education and research in Bangladesh has begun at InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka on 01 July 2019. University Grants Commission (UGC), Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and ADB are jointly organizing the workshop.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Kazi Shahidullah graced the opening session as the Chief Guest while BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Lutful Hassan gave the welcome remarks. Manmohan Parkash, Country Director of ADB was the special guest. Dr. Monjurul Alam of BAU presented a key note paper on challenges and opportunities for high tech agriculture in the workshop.

UGC Members Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain, Professor Dr. Dil Afroza Begum, Professor Dr. Md. Sazzad Hossain and Professor Dr. Muhammed Alamgir, Vice chancellors of agricultural universities, representatives from Ministry of Education, UGC and ADB were also present.

In his speech, the UGC Chairman said that it is high time to revamp agricultural education and training. “Country’s farmers need to move away from traditional input driven agriculture into knowledge intensive high tech agriculture if they are to meet future demand.” For this, ADB in association with UGC and agriculture universities is preparing a strategic plan for development of our agricultural education, he added.

Professor Dr. Kazi Shahidullah also said Universities should strengthen curriculums, institutional capacity and their links with industry to support young, high-tech agropreneurs.

Manmohan Parkash said ADB is keen to help high tech agriculture education for transforming Bangladesh’s agricultural sector and human resources.