The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

More than fifteen hundred drum-seeders worth Tk.50 lakhs remained unused since last two years and on the way of out of order in the goodown of regional agriculture department beyond the knowledge of the farmers of 11 districts.

Barisal regional office of agriculture extension department and other related sources acknowledging the facts said that agriculture department procured 1560 drum seeder worth Tk. 53 lakhs taka in 2006 for using developed cultivation method by planting seed. With drum-seeders.

It was decided that from June 20, 2006 these drum-seeders would be given to the farmers of eleven districts under Barisal agricultural region at the price of Tk.2, 000 per drum-seeder through the upazila agriculture offices.

Accordingly 202 drum-seeders for Barisal, 57 for Jhalakati, 216 for Pirojpur, 116 for Patuakhali, 111 for Barguna, 59 for Bhola, 200 for Faridpur, 83 for Gopalganj, 204 for Madaripur, 275 for Rajbari and 37 drum-seeders for Shariatpur district allotted and handed over within a short time.

A lot of money and time was wasted for supplying these drum-seeders to upazila level agriculture offices, but not distributed among the farmers due to their ignorance about using this equipment.

Barisal AED office sources said that union level field workers of agriculture department failed to motivate the farmers for purchasing and using drum-seeders to save time, money and labor of seed plantation and use develop cultivation methods.

In the mean time many drum-seeders damaged, some went out of order as laid unused in godowns with damp and humidity.

Deputy director in charge of Barisal AED said that more propagation, motivation and training about using methods and benefits of drum-seeders as well as easy termed loans for purchasing this equipment need to be provided for the farmers.