Moreover, closer links between scientists and breeders and farmers must be established by strengthening agriculture extension service, agriculture information service and by disseminating information through print and electronic media to accelerate the pace of growth.

These were the unanimous views of participants in a seminar on 'Challenges for Communication of Agriculture Research Results' held at Winter Garden of Hotel Sheraton yesterday.

The seminar coincided with an agriculture fair at the same venue in connection with the IRRI Board of Trustees' meeting in Bangladesh for the first time.

The International Rice Research Institute (Irri) and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) jointly organised the fair that highlighted the results of rice research and new farming technologies.

Vice Chancellor of South-East University Prof M Shamsher Ali chaired the seminar and Channel-I Director Shykh Seraj presented the keynote paper. Dr Golam Rahman of Dhaka University, BRRI Director Dr AR Gomosta, Agriculture Information Service (AIS) Director Fazlul Haque Rikabdar, Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Tariq Hasan and journalist Reaz Ahmad took part in the discussion.

Farmers -- both male and female -- from different districts also spoke highlighting the need for raising food production. They stressed soil test facilities and new technologies for rice drying and winnowing.

The keynote paper empahasised farmers' need-based research and coordination among different stakeholders including agricultural scientists, extension workers, policy planners, newsmen and farmers.

Prof. Shamsher Ali drew attention to the huge contribution of women to crop production and said this is ignored in most cases.