The prestigious Agriculture Awards for this year have recognized eight individuals across six categories, including the digital agricultural expansion initiative “Krishi Bioscope.” Agriculturist Talha Zubair received the award for “Krishi Bioscope,” while Kazi Ashraful Haque from Faridpur was honored in the Best Agricultural Innovation category for his work in managing household waste and producing green fertilizer from it. Md. Golam Sarwar, a young entrepreneur from Thakurgaon, was awarded in the Best Agri-Entrepreneur category for his production and marketing of silage feed from maize plants.
The recognition for impactful science and technology innovations in agriculture extended to Md. Shahidul Islam of Natore’s Lalpur, known for his medicinal village at Kathalbaria, for his production of “Roselle Tea.” In the Best Urban Greening category, Md. Gias Uddin from Chandina, Comilla, was awarded for his success in rooftop gardening and landscaping in Dhaka. The Best Women in Agriculture award was jointly presented to Preetilata Tripura from Khagrachari for her success in cultivating black pepper and Masuma Akter from Bogura for exporting beef pickles to 17 countries worldwide.
Additionally, a lifetime achievement award was presented to Professor M. A. Rahim, famously known as the “Fruit Man,” for his significant contributions to fruit cultivation in Bangladesh.
The awards ceremony, jointly organized by City Group and the Daily Prothom Alo, took place on Tuesday in the ballroom of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. Former caretaker government advisor Hossain Zillur Rahman handed over the awards to the selected farmers, entrepreneurs, and agricultural scientists.
In his keynote speech, the chief guest highlighted the need for greater focus and perspective on agriculture in policymaking, stating, “The agricultural sector is a strong pillar of the national economy. There is immense potential here. Farmers and scientists have made substantial contributions. Many others are also working in various ways within the sector. However, alongside developing improved crops and technologies, it is crucial to consider climate adaptation.”
Noting the opportunities for extensive growth in agriculture, Hossain Zillur Rahman added, “In addition to food grains, fisheries and livestock collectively hold significant potential for integrated agricultural development. This sector could become the third-largest contributor to national economic growth.” He advised PKSF (Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation) to take the initiative to provide farmers with accessible financial credit.
This year, the City Group-Prothom Alo Agriculture Awards received 1,064 applications both online and offline. The winners were selected after a rigorous evaluation by the jury.
Speaking at the event, the chair of the jury, Emeritus Professor Dr. M. A. Sattar Mandal, former Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University, emphasized the importance of agricultural innovation and sustainability. Other members of the jury included Dr. Zeba Islam Seraj, Professor of Biochemistry at Dhaka University and UGC member; Md. Fazlul Kader, Managing Director of PKSF; Dr. Hiraesh Ranjan Bhowmik, former Director General of the Department of Livestock Services; and Dr. Kashfia Ahmed, Chief Executive of Win Incorporate.
The award ceremony was graced by Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman and City Group Executive Director Zafar Uddin Siddiqui, who handed over commemorative plaques to the winners. The event was hosted by Munir Hasan, Chief Coordinator of Digital Transformation, Youth Programs, and Events at Prothom Alo.
