International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has assured of strengthening its cooperation and activities in increasing rice production and productivity in Bangladesh as it has adopted a five-year work-plan to this end.

The assurance was made when an IRRI delegation called on Agriculture Minister Md Abdus Shahid at his Secretariat Office here today.

IRRI's Asia Regional Director Jongsoo Shin, IRRI Bangladesh Representative Dr Humnath Bhandari, Executive Director Mohammed Shaheen Bhuiya and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Shahjahan Kabir were present.

Noting that unless food security is ensured, a country faces various problems, the agriculture minister said Bangladesh has no food deficiency now.

But population is increasing while Bangladesh has to host Rohingya people, he said, adding because of these reasons, food production should be increased for ensuring food security in the days to come.

Mentioning that the government's target is to enhance production, Abdus Shahid said if production can be increased, problems like hoarding and creation of artificial crisis won't exist.

The IRRI delegation said they are prioritizing production of high-yielding, short during and quality rice varieties.

Innovation of climate tolerant and nutritious rice varieties are getting importance to this end, they said.