This is a must for making agricultural produces viable and economically profitable, he said.

"Sixty per cent workforce of the total population here are engaged in agriculture and they bring out the annual production economically worth for 22 per cent only, " he said.

"Improved production using feasible, affordable and acceptable technologies for farmers and a smooth processing and marketing system can fill in the gap", he added.

Gene was briefing local journalists on activities of the USAID Mission on the occasion of the America Week.

Since the country's independence, the US government has provided nearly 4.3 billion US dollar in assistance to Bangladesh, he informed.

"Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in rice and emerging as a major exporter of high value agricultural products", he said. He told that the country has a large internal market for their agri-products.

"Such products coming from India, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries are flooding local markets, which Bangladesh can replace with own products," he said to journalists.

Gene cited an example of the fish culture demonstration pond at Boro Dhadash village in Belpukur areas of Puthia upazila in Rajshahi and called upon the entrepreneurs to follow the example.

He said Bangladesh can be proud of the rural electrification programme that was recognised as most successful throughout the world. "USAID funded nearly 220 million US dollar in the programme".

Gene expressed his concern over growing population that is likely to grow by 40 million in next 10 years still continues to be a problem in the country where HIV/AIDS poses a great threat.

While expressing views on political affairs of the country the USAID chief told that political leaders should avoid hartal for the interest of the country.