KSM Mostafizur Rahman, Managing Director of National AgriCare Group, said that farmers and agribusinesses are facing challenges in several areas, including the import of essential inputs for production. He emphasized that forming an agricultural commission is urgently needed to overcome these crises.

He made these remarks on Monday (May 5) while speaking as a panelist during the first session titled “Food Security and Fairness for Farmers” at the “Agriculture, Food Security & Living Nature Conference 2025,” organized by Bonik Barta at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka.

He added, “Pesticides are crucial for crop production. After independence, farmers used to receive them for free. But now, over 90 percent of pesticides are imported. Today, farmers have to spend over BDT 75 billion on pesticides alone.”

He added that several obstacles are slowing down domestic production of pesticides and other agricultural products. “For instance, there are significant delays in obtaining NOC (No Objection Certificates). On top of that, so-called quality control processes are sometimes used to halt production altogether.”

He emphasized that without transformation in agriculture, economic development is not possible.

The session was moderated by Bonik Barta’s Editor and Publisher Dewan Hanif Mahmud. Farida Akhtar, Adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, joined as the Chief Guest. Other special guests included Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture; Dr. Jahangir Alam, former Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute; Mohammad Mustafa Haider, Director of T.K. Group; Dr. F.H. Ansarey, President of ACI Agribusiness; and KSM Mostafizur Rahman, Managing Director of National Agricare Group.