The government has approved the National Agriculture Police 2018 aimed at achieving sustainable food and nutrition security through efficient utilization of the natural resources, BSS reports quoting officials.

The government first formulated the national agriculture policy in 1999 for making the crop production system profitable and then amended it in 2013 to tackle other challenges including the adverse impact of climate change in farm sector, the officials said on Monday.

Terming the new agriculture policy as the guideline of farm sector, noted agriculturist Dr Wais Kabir said the new agriculture policy has addressed new issues and concerns for sustainable food production.

The new policy has given emphasis on investment including quality seed production, fertilizer and irrigation management, bio-technology, farm mechanization, agriculture cooperative and marketing, women empowerment in agriculture, natural resource management, specialized agriculture, regional special agriculture, involvement of the youth force, agriculture rehabilitation, agriculture afforestation, safe and nutritious food production, use of information and communication technology, according to agriculture experts.

Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Mohammad Mohsin said, “We must introduce research in agriculture which includes biotechnology research, nanotechnology, microbiology research, farming system research and post harvest technology for making the crop production profitable under shrinking trend of cultivable land.”

The cabinet approved the new policy on Jul 9 this year with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.