Govt plans precision agriculture to cut costs, raise farmers’ incomes: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government plans to introduce precision agriculture to reduce production costs and increase farmers’ incomes through modern technologies and data-driven farming practices.

He also highlighted the government’s plan to introduce the ‘Khamari App’, a digital platform that will provide farmers with real-time information on suitable crops for different regions and seasons, fertiliser requirements, weather forecasts and other essential farming advice.

The Prime Minister made the remarks during a question-and-answer session in Parliament, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair.

The issue was raised by Cumilla-9 lawmaker Md Abul Kalam, who sought to know about the steps taken by the government to modernise agriculture through research, technology and mechanisation.

Tarique said the government had taken a series of initiatives to transform Bangladesh’s agriculture from a traditional, labour-intensive sector into a technology-driven and profitable one by promoting research, innovation and mechanisation.

He said the government is expanding the use of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in agriculture, including remote sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite data, big data and other advanced digital technologies.

“These technologies will help monitor crop health and yields, detect diseases, improve fertiliser and irrigation management, and make production planning more scientific and efficient,” he said.

He said the agricultural sector would be further reorganised and developed through appropriate incentives to ensure balanced, safe and nutritious food production.

The Prime Minister said the digital platform would help farmers make informed decisions, improve productivity and reduce production risks.

Tarique said the government’s goal is to build a modern agricultural system that is technology-based, climate-resilient, commercially viable and capable of ensuring long-term food security and sustainable rural development.