As per the directives of Bangladesh Bank, United Commercial Bank Plc (UCB) has taken the initiative to implement the agricultural support scheme- `Bhoroshar Notun Janala' this year as part of its  social responsibility. This project aims to ensure the country's food security, ensure better nutritional quality, and promote climate-resilient sustainable agriculture.

Today (February 27, 2023) at 10 am, a discussion meeting was organized in the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) conference room on the project implementation plan. Mr.

Ruhul Amin Talukder Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, was the chief guest at this meeting. Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar, The Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and Bangladesh Bank Agricultural Credit Department Director (ACD) Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad was present as a special guest. Mr. Arif Qadri, Managing Director and CEO of United Commercial Bank Plc presided over the event. UCB Deputy Managing Director ATM Tahmiduzzaman presented the project plan in this sharing meeting. Former Agriculture Secretary and leader of BSAFE Foundation Anwar Farooq, A2I Head of Innovation Cluster Manik Mahmood, UCB Agro-CSR project coordinator, agriculturist, and media personality Rezaul Karim Siddiqui and various government institutions, research institutes, experts, agri-entrepreneurs related to agriculture spoke in the sharing meeting.

Speakers of the event said that for the development of commercial agriculture, it is necessary to improve the skills of agricultural entrepreneurs across the country and provide them with easy conditions. In order to implement the Smart Agriculture Declaration, and to increase the use of modern technology in the overall agriculture sector, support should reach the farmer's doorsteps. In addition to increasing production, market management should also be developed to protect the interests of producers. For this, different government departments and private institutions have to work together. If everyone works together, it is possible to bring revolutionary changes in the field of agriculture.

It is to be noted that the programs that have been planned to be implemented in the agricultural assistance project of UCB include identifying the right agricultural and food entrepreneurs and providing training according to their needs, taking initiatives to increase the skills of about 13,000 agricultural entrepreneurs from almost all the upazilas of the 64 districts of the country. ; Support/catalyst role in the expansion of climate-friendly crop production and agricultural mechanization facilities; Organization of entrepreneurship conferences to strengthen the flow of finance or credit among entrepreneurs; Enhancing youth involvement in safe and nutritious food management, undertaking special activities to create women and youth entrepreneurship; Creating a group of youth and youth volunteers to provide farmers with the necessary information to increase agricultural production, using digital media in providing information; 40 upazilas to develop as 'model areas' by intensively implementing the project; Ensuring access to and use of advanced, climate-smart agricultural technologies and tools; Distribution of personal safety equipment (safety glasses, pesticide-resistant clothing, etc.) to farmers in the project area; Providing assistance in food preservation and processing.

BSAFE Foundation and A2I will be implementing this project of UCB.