The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Experts here have said that popularizing the use of Guti urea and application of urea through adopting Leaf Colour Chart (LCC) method can save over 25 percent urea annually in the country.

Reduced use of urea would raise crop production by at least six to ten percent, help regaining the lost soil fertility, population of the extinct insecticides, birds and fishes and maintain ecology, bio-diversity and environment, they said.

Scientists and experts in Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said this on Saturday while talking to BSS on the ongoing T-Aman farming programme and overall seed and fertilizer situation in the region.

They said, the government has taken all necessary steps for smooth distribution of T-Aman seeds, fertilisers and pesticides for making the increased target of farming T-Aman crop this season in northern Bangladesh.

The farmers have been continuing preparation of the T-Aman seedbeds, transplantation of the early variety seedlings and there is no problem with T- Aman seeds or chemical fertlisers anywhere in the region.

Training courses and motivational works for the agriculture extension officers, sub-assistant agriculture officers, concerned government and NGO officials and workers and farmers on optimum use of urea fertilisers have been continuing everywhere, they said. The BRRI and DAE have been providing these motivational trainings on proper use of urea through adopting the LCC method and application of Guti urea in every upazila, block and village to ensure optimum use of the fertiliser, officials said. Under these programmes on using Guti urea and LCC method, over 20,000 sub- assistant agriculture officers, NGO workers, farmers and master trainers have been provided training on proper use of urea during this T-Aman farming season in the region.Officials said, the trainings are still continuing and being provided also to create job for the farm labourers side by side with ensuring food security, crop diversification and increasing production of all varieties including high- valued crops to alleviate poverty.

Chief of Rangpur Regional Research Station of BRRI and also its Chief Scientific Officer Dr Abdul Mazid and Scientific Officer Anwarul Haque on Saturday elaborately narrated to BSS how they have been conducting the training courses in recent years.The Local Service Providers and farmer promoters of each upazila in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha, who were trained during the past two consecutive years, have now been educating their fellow farmers on LCC and Guti urea in their respective areas.

Besides, farmers from each upazila, who were provided similar training on LCC during the past two years and this year, have now been utilizing their knowledge in educating the farmers as they did it during the last Boro season.

Some of the trained farmers said they were using up to 35 kg urea fertilizer in each bigha of land and the BRRI and DAE scientists taught them how the maximum yield of T-Aman could be achieved by using only 22 to 25 kg urea in the same land.About 13 kg urea will be saved per bigha if the farmers use the LCC method in their crop fields, Dr. Mazid said adding that about 25 percent urea could be saved if all farmers used the LCC method or applied Guti urea to their crop fields in the country.Deputy Director of DAE, Rangpur Kamal Shariful Alam said use of Guti urea and LCC method would also ensure optimum use of urea and raise rice production by six to 10 percent and help protecting the bio- diversity.

The DAE in cooperation with BRRI, have also been conducting huge training programmes for the farmers, agri- experts, public representatives, government officials, and NGO executives for the purpose to achieve full benefits of using Guti urea and LCC method, he added.

Over 25 percent urea will be saved if all farmers use Guti urea and follow the LCC method, Dr Mazid and Kamal Shariful Alam said adding that the farmers must ensure optimum use of MoP, TSP and Gypsum fertilisers to get the full benefits.