"It is not possible to reach the desired target of national development if development of agriculture could not be quickened," he said while addressing a three-day seminar on "Agro-Tech-2004: Bangladesh" arranged by Techbangla and its alliances at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre yesterday.

Chaired by former adviser to the caretaker government and convenor of Agro-Tech, 2004 Syed Monzur Elahi, the inaugural session was addressed, among others, by State Minister for Agriculture Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

"Agricultural production will have to be increased by proper utilization of the government's subsidy," he said adding "quality produces will have to be exported after increasing the production volume by using modern technology and diversification of agriculture."

He also called for bolstering the country's agricultural economy by setting up agro-based and labour-intensive industries. Later he went round different stalls.