The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chilmari

Speakers at a function emphasised the need for boosting fruit farming to achieve economic self- reliance to change the country's rural economy.

They were speaking at the concluding ceremony of a three-day Fruit-Tree Fair-2008 organised by Chilmari Upazila Agricultural Extension Office on the local upazila parishad premises in Kurigram district on Wednesday.

They laid stress on the need of increasing fruit production side by side with all other crops through using the latest technologies and imparting trainings and creating proper marketing facilities for fruits and utilising every inch of land including the homesteads.

Chaired by Chilmari Upazila Agriculture Officer Zulfikar Haider, the concluding ceremony was attended and addressed by Chilmari UNO Enamul Haque as the chief guest. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Sudeep Kumar Bose, Veterinary surgeon Dr Habibur Rahman, Sub-assistant Agriculture Officer Syeed Hossain Ansari, Secretary of Chilmari press club SM Nurul Amin Sarker, addressed. Experts of the DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, nursery owners and farmers both male and female attended the function.

Nursery owners, government organisations, NGOs and local entrepreneurs set up 20 stalls in the fair where over 80 varieties of fruit including indigenous species of fruits and over 90 varieties of fruit tree saplings were exhibited and sold.

The speakers discussed the huge prospects of fruit production in rural Bangladesh and asked all including the rural people and housewives for increased fruit production through integrated steps and commitments for changing economical status of all. "More and more indigenous species of fruits and vegetables along with hybrid fruits and vegetables should be cultivated in the homesteads to meet nutritional demands of the people throughout the country," they said.