13 people to get 'agriculturally important person' status Wednesday

A total of 13 people are set to receive the country’s first-ever 'Agricultural Important Persons’ (AIPs) status on Wednesday for their contribution to the development of the agricultural sector.

AIP is similar to the status of Commercially Important Persons (CIPs) and they will enjoy the homogeneous status as the CIPs enjoy.

Earlier, the farmers were first urged to submit their applications to their respective upazila (sub-district) office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) before April 14, 2020.

Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque came up with the information at a press conference at the ministry’s conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday.

In the "Agricultural innovation varieties/technology" category, Dr Lutful Hasan of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Ataus Sopan Malik, Managing Director of A R Malik Seeds Pvt. Ltd, Syed Abdul Matin of Future Organic and Alimus Sadat Chowdhury of Alim Industries.

Under the ‘Agricultural production/commercial farm establishment and agro-processing industry’,  the six awardees are Md. Salim Reza, Distantho Agro Farm & Nursery in Natore, Md Mehedi Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury of Thakurgaon,  Md. Mahfuzur Rahman, Esha Integrated Agriculture Farm, Md. Badrul Haider Bepari, Pirojpur,  Md. Shahbaz Hussain Khan,  Patuakhali and Md. Samsuddin (Kalu), Comilla.

Under the category of the government-approved or registered organisation in agricultural produce, fisheries, livestock and forest subsectors, the recipient is Jahangir Alam Shah, from Naogaon district.

Apart from this, under gold medal category of Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award, two awardees are Nurunnahar Begum of Pabna and Shahjahan Ali Badsha of Pabna.

The AIP recipients will get the same advantage as the CIP award holders normally receive from the government.

The entire process of selection for AIP status has been followed as per the Agricultural Important Person Policy-2019.

The number of AIP awards will be maximum 45 for the contribution and excellence in the agricultural sector, the policy reads.

According to the policy, the AIP awards will be offered in five categories.

Maximum 10 people for the Agricultural Innovations (Technology or Breed), 15 people for Agricultural Production/Commercial Farming and Agricultural Processing Industries, 10 for Production of Exportable Agricultural Products, five for Recognised or State Registered Agricultural Organisation and five for Gold Medallists of Bangabandhu Agricultural Award will receive the status, the policy reveals.

The period of the AIP status will last for one year. The benefit of the status will automatically be finished after one year, the policy reads.

The AIP card must be submitted within one week to the Ministry of Agriculture or district office of Department of Agricultural Extension after the term of card expires, the policy states.

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