The New Nation - Internet Edition

Targets of 26 seasonal crops won’t be achieved in Barisal agri zone

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Lack of patronization, failure in timely sanction of agriculture loan and incensement of production cost caused failure in achieving the target of 26 varieties of seasonal crops like onion, wheat, maize, sugar cane, pulses, mustard, garlic, tarmaric, zinger, barley, in 11 districts under Barisal agriculture region this year.

Regional office of Barisal agriculture extension department sources said that this region consisted with Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna,Jhalakati, Pirojpur districts of Barisal division, Rajbari,Madaripur,Gopalganj,Shariatpur and Faridpur districts of Dhaka division.

Forty-two varieties of crops are usually cultivated in winter season as seasonal crops (Rabi Shasaya) in this region and Boro paddy is the main of those.

This year Boro paddy achieved target of production and rest 41 varieties were cultivated on 6, 42,060 hectors of land instead of targeted 6, 84,743 hectors of lands.

Barisal regional AED sources said among the main seasonal crops sugar cane cultivated on 17,562 hectors of lands instead of targeted 19,131 hectors, mustards cultivated on 38,812 hectors instead of targeted 43,805 hectors, wheat cultivated on 63,255 hectors instead of targeted 64,475 hectors, turmeric cultivated on only 152 hectors instead of targeted 2,555 hectors, Kheshari pulses cultivated on 86,934 hectors instead of targeted 1,53,623 hectors, Arhar pulses cultivated on only 19 hectors instead of targeted 231 hectors, zinger cultivated on only 19 hectors instead of targeted 126 hectors, sunflower cultivated on only 37 hectors instead of targeted 199 hectors of lands.

Abubakar Siddik, a seasonal crop farmer of Pattanivanga of Muladi upazila of Barisal district, alleged that it takes long time to get agriculture loans.

Abdul Malek Sardar of Nazirpur under Pirojpur district, said that in fear of complexities in granting bank loans, he collected money from the local moneylenders at the rate 10% interest per month for cultivation of seasonal crops.

Makbul Ahmed, a landless seasonal crop farmer of Shariatpur, said that he borrowed lands from the owners and took loans from private moneylenders in high rate of monthly interest and incensement of production cons makes it very difficult to get profit.

Molla Safiur Rahman, additional director of Barisal AED, said that they found deep interest of farmers to cultivate seasonal crops in this region. Therefore, we requested bank officials to grant agriculture loans on easy terms and conditions and low rate of interest.

Md. Emdadul Huq, deputy general manager of Kririshi Bank Barisal regional office, said that terms and conditions for agriculture loans were fixed by the policy makers of the government and bank had to verify documents for sanctioning loans, which takes time. Many farmers also loan defaulters and so hesitated to come to bank for fresh loans.

Youth leaders training programme held at RU

RU correspondent

The Youth Ending Hunger -Bangladesh (YEHB) Programme ,Rajshahi University unit on Wednesday organized a 4 day long youth leaders training programme at RU central cafeteria .

Global Vice President and country director of The Hunger Project of Bangladesh Dr. Badiul Alam attended the opening ceremony of the training program as chief guest while Prof. of Sociology department Mostafizur Rahman and Professor of psychology department A N M Saleh attended as special guest on the opening ceremony.

A total of 40 students of RU were participated the programme. Assistant programme officer of The Hunger Project of Bangladesh Bidan Chandra Pal, regional chief of Rajshahi Subrat Kumar Pal, Youth activist Maruful Hasan and Firuz al Mamun attend among other.

Two arrested with 300 grams of heroin in Sylhet

BSS, Sylhet

Police arrested two heroin peddlers with 300 grams of heroin in Kuarpar area in the city on Thursday.

Police said the arrested were identified as Emdadul Haque, 32, son of Soleman Haque and Shafiqul Islam Lobu, 22, son of Abul Kashem of Kotabari Sagorpara area under Rajshahi district.

The sources said, in a secret information, CID police raided the area and arrested them with the heroin.

A case was filed with the concerned police station in this connection.

Woman killed in road mishap

BSS, Chittagong

A woman died and two others received injuries in a road accident at Banshkhali Upazila in the district today.

The victim was identified as Momena Begum, 35, daughter of Ahmed Safa of Saral union of the upazila, police said.

The injured were Olema Begum, 70, and her son Abdul Khaleque , 40. They were admitted to local health complex.

Eyewitnesses said, the accident took place after a passenger bus hit an auto-rickshaw from behind at Cechuria on the Chittagong-Banshkhali road this morning, leaving Momena dead on the spot.

A case was lodged with Banshkhali Police Station in this connection.

UP member held with bribe money

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

RAB-8 of Madaripur camp nabbed a UP member with bribe money while he was taking bribe for VGD card. Rab arrested him with the money amounting to Taka 600.

Commanding officer of RAB-8 Madaripur camp Major Anwar-us-Sadat said he received some allegations against the member as to demand of money for VGD card then RAB set a trap to nab the UP member on April 16. The UP member Haider Matubber of ward Number-1 of Amgram village under Rajoir upazila of the district received the said amount of money from one Papya Begum. RAB personnel arrested him instantly.

He demanded Tk 1000 for VGD card Papya paid him Tk 400 earlier and he was arrested while receiving the rest money amounting to Taka 600/-.

News Briefs

14 bridges, culverts being constructed in Pirojpur

Pirojpur, May 11: Work on 14 bridges and culvert has been progressing fast in six upazilas of the district involving Tk 1.68 crore. Relief and Rehabilitation Department is implementing the schemes. Of the total schemes, two are being implemented in sadar upazila, two in Zianagar, three in Bhandaria, two in Nazirpur, three in Mothbaria and two in Kaukhali upazila. The work is likely to be finished by June, reports UNB.

Mustard cultivation gains popularity

Bandarban, May 11: Growers in the district are showing much interest in cultivating mustard and peanut on their lands as it proves profitable for them. Local Agriculture Office sources said cultivation of mustard and peanut has been increased remarkably here in the current season due to favorable condition of climate. This season, mustard has been cultivated on 382 hectares while peanut on 548 hectares. Agriculture Extension Department has set a target to cultivate peanut on 700 hectares this year, reports UNB.