Dhaka: Agriculturists at a workshop here has stressed the need for certification of organic agricultural produces acknowledging that the products are safe as those are produced without chemical use.

They said certification is an important issue to realise the consumers’ trust and somebody (authorities concerned) needs to certify the organic agricultural products as the consumers are scared of unsafe food. 

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control.

Horticulture Research Center of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Asian Network for Sustainable Organic Farming Technology (ANSOFT) jointly organised the workshop titled ‘Organic Farming Research and Development in Bangladesh’ at BARC conference room in the capital on Thursday.

Agriculture Ministry additional secretary Mohammad Nazrul Islam, BARI director general Dr Rafiqul Islam Mondal, BARC executive chairman Dr Abul Kalam Azad and director of Horticulture Research Center Dr Shahabuddin Ahmad, among others, spoke at the inaugural session.

Mohammad Nazrul Islam said Bangladesh is now a surplus food grain-producing country but it is struggling to ensure nutritious food.

Referring to an example of safe food, he said Bangladesh has exported tomato to Russia last and it does not import tomato from Bangladesh this year raising question about food safety. But organic farming can regain tomato market in Russia.

Dr Abul Kalam Azad said these days people are worried about food safety as crops are being contaminated from many inorganic sources. “But, we must go for organic agriculture for producing safe food.”

Dr Shahabuddin Ahmad said with the growing awareness about environmental and ethical issues, consumers now expect their food to be produced and processed with greater respect for the environmental safety, and they are increasingly looking for quality in food products.

Organic practices are the right option to fulfill the demand of the consumers, he added.