Pran Foods
Agrow Award honours 10 individuals, institutions
Ten individuals and institutions have been honoured with Agrow Award in recognition of their extraordinary contribution to the country's agriculture sector.
Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque handed out the crests and prize money at a ceremony at InterContinental Dhaka this evening.
Standard Chartered Bank and Channel i jointly conferred the award in nine categories.
Md Akbor Hossain was awarded the "farmer of the year" (male), while Nayan Selina and Nurunnahar Begum were picked for the female category.
Md Jahangir Alam Shah, the founder of an agriculture Library and Agriculture Museum and writer of "Krishi Ponjika", was awarded as the "heroes for change".
In the best journalist category, Mohammad Nuruzzaman, editor and publisher of "Weekly Krishi O Amish" bagged the prize while Prof Abdur Rahim won the lifetime achievement award and Md Kobbat Hossain was chosen as "Jury Special".
Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) was crowned the best agricultural organisation in research, innovation and technology.
PRAN Dairy Limited bagged the award as the best agricultural exporter.
Resource Development Foundation (RDF), is a non-government development organisation, awarded as the best agricultural organisation in support and execution.
At the event, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "The work done by this year's award winners is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the heroes of the agriculture industry. Even in the face of a global pandemic and various other obstacles, these individuals and organisations have remained undeterred providing employment for more than 6,500 people."
He also said, "Their drive, passion, and dedication to their craft and to a nation of millions that rely on them is truly inspiring. I am thrilled that through our partnership with Channel i, we are able to take part in celebrating the work they are doing to propel our nation to greater heights.
Shykh Seraj, director and head of news at Channel i, said: "Farmers are the main heroes of Bangladesh. They have built hunger-free Bangladesh in their own hands. We often forget that. But these farmers are providing food to us through their sweat and labour."
The noted agriculture development activist said that at this time of climate change, young farmers are setting an example through outstanding success in technology-based agriculture.
"All of them deserve special recognition. Those who have received the award made great contributions to their respective fields."
He said technological change is inevitable in the agriculture sector. "The sector is moving towards technological transformation."
In order to make the transformation smooth, funding is needed, according to Seraj.
"The government should provide subsidies while the private sector should make investments."
