11 agri heroes honoured with Agrow Awards

Standard Chartered Bangladesh (SCB) and Channel i yesterday honoured 11 individuals and organisations with Agrow Awards for their outstanding contributions to the country's agriculture and rural development.

The ceremony took place at the InterContinental Dhaka and celebrated achievements in innovation, sustainability, climate adaptation, community development and modern farming practices.

This marked the 10th edition of the awards, introduced by Standard Chartered in 2014 to recognise leaders and innovators who are helping to drive Bangladesh's agriculture forward.

Prof Abdul Halim received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his long service to the agriculture sector.

Anwara Khan Doly was named Best Female Farmer, while Akkas Ali received the Best Male Farmer award for their dedication to farming.

Abdus Salam won the Agro-entrepreneur of the Year award for his role in expanding agricultural entrepreneurship.

In the Young Agri-entrepreneur category, Parveen Akhter was recognised as Best Young Agri-entrepreneur (female), and Abdul Gafur received the honour in the male category.

Reaz Ahmad was recognised as Best Agriculture Journalist for his contribution to agri reporting.

The Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) won the Best Climate Smart Agriculture Initiative award for championing sustainable and climate-resilient farming.

Hosne Ara received the Best Agro-innovation award in the crop category for her work in crop production.

Among organisations, Nemlab was named Best Organisation for technology, innovation and youth, while Krishi Bazar Ltd received the award for support and sustainability.

A five-member jury selected the winners from hundreds of nominations across the country, with agricultural development specialist Shykh Seraj acting as the board chair.

Speaking at the event, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said that the country's food grain production in 1971 stood at 1.3 crore tonnes. Output has now risen to nearly 4 crore tonnes.

"Although the population has a little more than doubled, productivity has risen over threefold. This achievement should not be underestimated," he said.

The central bank governor noted that agricultural loans currently account for only 2 percent of total lending, and said the aim is to raise this share to 10 percent. The central bank has a fund of Tk 25,000 crore for lending to small and medium enterprises, although disbursement is limited due to weak capacity among banks, he added.

Mansur stressed the need for adequate credit for small farmers and rural entrepreneurs.

Standard Chartered Bangladesh CEO Naser Ezaz Bijoy said, "The real heroes of this country are our farmers."

Their relentless work, he said, ensures national food security.

"Although agriculture's contribution to the economy has declined, its importance has not. The country's food security, rural economy, and employment all stand on agriculture."

"Agriculture is not just an economic sector; it is the backbone of our nation's progress," he said. "The inspiring stories of today's winners show how innovation, resilience, and collaboration can drive sustainable development."

Shykh Seraj, director and head of news at Channel i, said farmers and innovators continue to protect the country from food shortages despite climate challenges and global uncertainty.

"Amid climate change and global volatility, agriculture remains our strongest path to resilience," he added.

He said Bangladesh avoided food shortages even when the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine triggered a global food crisis.

However, he noted that crops are often damaged due to transport problems and limited storage. Improving distribution and storage must be a priority to ensure food security.