The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Scientists at two farmers gatherings here today urged the farmers to increase the acreage of mug bean cultivation through utilizing the existing natural resources to enhance its production.

They said there has been a bright prospect for mug bean cultivation in the high lands that remain fallow in the vast tract of Barind region after the harvest of potato and wheat for the last couple of years.

In this context, the experts said huge cultivable lands always remain fallow in the region and initiatives are being taken to bring the lands under the cultivation of the cash crop.

The On Farm Research Division (OFRD) under Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) arranged the peasants' gatherings at Chabbisnagar under Godagari upazila and at Amnura under Chapainawabganj on the occasion of crop cutting of BARIMUG- 6 with presence of around 300 cultivators.

They brought some 90 bighas of land under mug bean cultivation at the two sites. The OFRD extended all sorts of inputs like seed and other technical know-how to reduce the yield gap at the farmers' level.

Cultivation of summer mug bean has been gaining ground in different northern districts for the last couple of years to the meet up the demands of the local, regional and national markets.

Some 10,300 hectares of land were brought under the mug bean cultivation in eight districts in the current season. However, the acreage was 7,867 hectares in the previous season.

Senior Scientific Officer of OFRD Shafiqul Islam described various positive aspects of mug bean cultivation in the vast tract of Barind region in his welcome address with Senior Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station Dr. Shafiqul Islam in the chair.

Chief Scientific Officer of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ishwardi Dr. Ismail Mian Bhuiyan, Chief Scientific Officer of Pulses Research Station, Ishwardi Dr. Jalal Uddin and farmers Firoj and Monu addressed the gatherings, among others.