Agricultural PARTNER Congress Held in Sariakandi to Boost Rice and Crop Production

A "Partner Congress" was held in Sariakandi on Sunday to promote modern agricultural technology, increase crop yields, and elevate farmers' financial conditions.

The event took place at 11:00 AM at the Sariakandi Upazila Auditorium under the Program on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition and Resilience in Bangladesh (PARTNER) project. The initiative is being implemented with support from the World Bank, UNDP, and IFAD.

Sariakandi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sumaiya Ferdous presided over the session. Kazi Erfanur Rahman Rentu, former President of Sariakandi Upazila BNP, attended the event as the representative of the local Member of Parliament for the Bogura-1 constituency, Kazi Rafiqul Islam. Masum Ahmed, Senior Monitoring Officer of the PARTNER Program for the Bogura Agricultural Region, was present as a special guest. Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Ali Jinnah supervised the program, which was moderated by Agricultural Extension Officer Ruhul Amin Sarkar.

Local political leaders, including municipal BNP President Shahadat Hossain Soni and former Upazila BNP General Secretary Shahajat Hossain Paltan, along with representatives from various youth and volunteer fronts, were also in attendance.

Speaking as the representative of the chief guest, Kazi Erfanur Rahman Rentu emphasized the fertility of Bangladesh's soil. "Farmers will benefit immensely if we adopt modern technology and increase the production of nutritious, safe food. Adopting good agricultural practices is essential. We are currently struggling to capture international markets because our crops often fail to meet international safety standards. If we ensure safe food production, we can successfully export abroad," he said.

Special guest Masum Ahmed noted that the project’s primary objective is to create new agro-entrepreneurs and stimulate the rural economy. "The PARTNER program is transitioning our agricultural sector from subsistence farming to commercial farming, ensuring food quality, nutrition, and climate resilience," he added.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Ali Jinnah explained that the congress aims to offer sustainable support to marginal farmers. This includes expanding new crop varieties, streamlining product marketing, improving food quality, and disseminating modern agricultural data and technology.

The event drew participation from various government officials, local representatives, private sector stakeholders, and agricultural officers. Around 70 local farmers attended the congress, which also featured stalls displaying high-yielding crop varieties and modern agricultural products.