The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

The post-flood rehabilitation works with priority on the agriculture sector were further intensified in greater Rangpur through gearing up distribution of T-Aman seedlings and seeds of other crops in the region.

Officials told BSS here yesterday that the government had already strengthened its efforts with free distribution of T-Aman seedlings and seeds of other crops among the flood-hit farmers in five districts of greater Rangpur.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Horticulture Centres and NGOs including Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) have been distributing huge quantity of seedlings. Principal Scientific Officer of BRRI, Rangpur, Dr Abdul Mazid said he had distributed BRRI-11 and other varieties of T- Aman seedlings including the flood-tolerant one invented by him among the farmers.

The DAE has been distributing T-Aman seedlings developed on 91 acres at different places of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari districts among the flood-hit farmers of the area.

The BADC has also been distributing T-Aman seedlings developed on 22 acres to enable the farmers cultivate their crops on 440 acres in Rangpur.

RDRS already distributed T-Aman seedlings grown on 12 acres in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts among the affected farmers to help them transplant T-Aman on 240 acres, officials said.

They said many other government and non-government organisations with the assistance of the army have been distributing crop seeds and T-Aman seedlings among the farmers as part of the post-flood agriculture rehabilitation.

With the recession of flood waters, the government started distributing quality seeds including high yielding and hybrid varieties seeds of Boro, potato, maize, wheat, vegetables and fertilizer with required agri-inputs among the farmers of 10 flood-hit northern districts.