Information dissemination by the Agriculture Information Services (AIS) contributes significantly in fostering Agriculture based economic growth of the country, said Md Shahjahan Ali Biswas, Director of AIS in an exclusive interview with daily Bangladesh Post.
He said, as an organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture, the AIS has been working relentlessly for reaching agriculture information to the doorsteps of the farmers through media.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman promoted agriculturists to class one officers. He had declared agriculturists as class one officers on February 13 in 1973. So, an extra power worked in the mind of agriculturists. Now we are enjoying the benefits of that facilities. Bangabandhu was a farsighted man. His decision was revolutionary, said Md Shahjahan Ali Biswas, Director of AIS.
He said that our Prime Minister and daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been materializing the dreams of Bangabandhu one after another. She is called ‘like daughter like father. Many of the agricultural organizations were formed by Bangabandhu.
Replying to a set of queries made by Bangladesh Post, Mr. Biswas described how the AIS has become a very much acceptable and inevitable organisation among the farmers across the country.
Md Shahjahan Ali Biswas passed SSC from SM High School, Ishwardi and HSC from Rajshahi Govt College. He completed his honours and masters from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh in Soil Science. He qualified in 10th BCS exam and joined the Agriculture Information Service in November last year as director.
The excerpts of his interview is as follows:
Bangladesh Post: Please give us a brief feature about the founding history of the Agriculture Information Service (AIS)
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: Agriculture Information Service (AIS) is a government organization under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). The main target of this organization is to reach the modern agricultural information and technologies to the farmers’ doorstep at grass roots level through mass media.
It was incepted in 1961 as Agriculture Information Agency (AIA) which was turned into Agriculture Information Service in 1985. Since the creation of the Agricultural Information Service, 245 officials started work. But according to the decision of the Cabinet Division, the Agriculture Information Service was divided into two parts and one third of the manpower was transferred to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Presently, 243 manpower are working in the headquarters and in regional offices.
Bangladesh Post: AIS is one of the important departments of the government. Please pass your comment about its Vision, Mission and objectives.
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: Our Vision, Mission and objectives are given below:
Vision: To make available the modern agricultural information services.
Mission: Creating awareness among the farmers making the agricultural information and technologies available to the farmers using print, electronic and ICT-based mass media.
Objective: With the help of modern media (print and electronic), the information and technology of agriculture is made available to grass roots level farmers including the extension workers.
Bangladesh Post: We know that present time is the era of information technology. How much is AIS suited to the epoch of this information technology?
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: The Agricultural Information Service is mainly working at the grassroots level with the help of three media - print, electronic and ICT. Through the effective use of the media, all the innovations of the Research Institute are aimed at reaching farmers, agro-workers and agricultural stakeholders with the new innovations of agriculture. The services are providing at grassroots level with the help of these media.
Bangladesh Post: How AIS is playing a role in the expansion and development of agriculture through print media?
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: The campaign is trying to reach the goal of agricultural development with the Agricultural Information Service through print media. Monthly Krishikotha is the most traditional farming magazine in Bangladesh. It has been working as a guideline for agricultural technology nationwide among the mass people since 1939. We also publish a monthly Shomprosaron Bartha which carries agricultural news. One of the proudest publications of the Agricultural Information Service is the Krishi Diary. In addition to the general diary, it contains the telephone numbers of all persons/ organizations related to agriculture and the special and essential parts of contemporary agricultural information and technology. Apart from this, agricultural information and technology-based booklets, journals, reports, flipcharts, leaflets, folders, stickers, etc are available for free printing with 4 color printing.
Bangladesh Post: How AIS is playing its role in the development of agriculture through electronic media?
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: At present, Electric media is playing a vital role in Agriculture sector through AIS.
Betar Activities: The Agricultural Information Service has been providing comprehensive assistance in the field of agricultural activities from its inception. For about 70 years, it has been broadcasting popular agricultural information and technology related program through radio for the rural people. Currently, national and regional agricultural programs are being broadcast from 10 Betar stations in the country.
Bangladesh Post: We know AIS has unveiled a new horizon in agricultural sector of Bangladesh. Would you please pass your comment how it is modernizing farmers, by using ICT?
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: ICT is educating farmers with modern technology through different ways. The ways are:
ICT Media: There is immense potential and opportunities for the use of information technology in agriculture. The use of ICT and mass media is the demand of today. To materialize the current government’s dream of creating ‘Digital Bangladesh’ real, the Agricultural Information Service has launched ICT-based information system in agriculture.
Website: The website of Agricultural Information Service (www.ais.gov.bd) is the largest agricultural website in Bangladesh. Updates on various topics such as production technology, market data, weather data, and timetable, agricultural news, print and electronic contents are available on this website.
Agricultural Information and Communication Center: Agricultural Information and Communication Center (AICC) has been set up as a one-stop service center. A total of 499 service centers in 10 agricultural areas are disseminating information services through the use of information technology equipment, at grassroots level. AICC has been selected from IPM/ ICM clubs.
Agricultural Call Centers: Agricultural Call Center has been set up at the head office of the Agricultural Information Service with the joint venture of Agricultural Information Service and Practical Action Bangladesh. Farmers and agro-related people are immediately getting solutions to problems related to agriculture/ fisheries/ livestock from any mobile phone by calling 16123 at 0.25tk/ min. Currently, six days in a week (excluding Fridays and public holidays), the service delivery program is running from 7am to 9pm.
Bangladesh Post: How do you evaluate the self-sufficiency in food in our country?
Md Shahjahan Ali Biswas: You are absolutely right. The first and foremost reason is that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman promoted agriculturists to class one officers. Bangabandhu had declared agriculturists as class one officers on February 13 in 1973. This declaration was base of coming brilliant people in Agriculture. So, an extra power worked in the minds of agriculturists. Now we are enjoying the benefits of that power. Bangabandhu was a farsighted man. His decision was revolutionary. If you think, the population of the country was 7 crore when Bangabandhu was in power. But there was shortage of food in that time. Now we are self-sufficient in food though our population is more than 16 crore. This is the contribution of Bangabandhu. Our Prime Minister and daughter of Bangabandhu has been implementing the dreams of Bangabandhu one after one. Many of the agricultural organisations were formed by Bangabandhu. Bangabandhu called for green revolution. He told repeatedly to help farmers by going country leaving pant-shirt. Keeping the words of her father in mind, the Prime Minister has been taking time-befitting steps for saving agriculture and farmers. She mechanized the agriculture. The Prime Minister allotted huge budget for innovating new varieties.
Bangladesh Post: Bangabandhu called for green revolution. He did much work for the development of agriculture. Do you think that Bangladesh’s agriculture turned as development model in the world?
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: You have put a very good question. Bangabandhu means Bangladesh. Bangabandhu’s name comes first when we think about Bangladesh. Bangabandhu tried his utmost for the development of the country. He called for green revolution for the development of agriculture. He requested the urban people to engage themselves in agriculture work.
Bangladesh Post: How you compare our present agriculture with the agriculture of 15 years ago?
Shahjahan Ali Biswas: We can see huge development of agriculture than it was 15 years ago. We have settled various issues including food security, quality of nutrition, mechanization, high value crop FAP, processing value add of agriculture, innovation of new varieties, handing over technology to all, giving agriculture service through mobile APS, Krishi Batayon, giving subsidy in various agriculture materials, and over all tackling climate change. Dimension of total agriculture has been changed due to ensuring the above-mentioned issues.
