Agriculture Minister Dr. Md. Abdus Shahid stressed that climate change presents a major obstacle to sustainable food security during an international symposium on climate change, food security, and difficulties in sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh that were held at Hotel Amari in the nation's capital.

Dr Shahid highlighted the crucial importance of agriculture in ensuring the food security of Bangladesh's population of 17 crore people. He praised the government's agriculture-friendly policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, attributing the tremendous success in food security and agricultural production to these policies.

Bangladesh, being one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, faces direct risks to future food production, particularly in rice production. Dr Shahid expressed concern over the potential negative impact of climate change on rice production and reiterated the government's commitment to combatting its adverse effects. The government's priority is to establish a sustainable, safe, and profitable agricultural system.

The event, organized by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), saw participation from various international agricultural research institutes. The seminar brought together 50 delegates from 17 countries to discuss strategies for addressing the challenges posed by climate change to food security and agriculture. Speakers at the event included representatives from organizations such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and senior officials from Vietnam and Cambodia.