The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former adviser to the caretaker government Dhiraj Kumar Nath yesterday said that over 60 to 70 per cent of fertiliser is wasted on the fields due to ignorance of the farmers about their proper application.

This valuable input can be saved from extensive wastage if the field level officials train up the farmers about their proper use, he said while addressing as chief guest at a roundtable on 'Role of Media in Agriculture Development of Bangladesh', held at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Training Hall Room in the city. The Diploma Krishibid Institute (DKI) organised the roundtable.

He pointed out that huge quantity of irrigation water meets the same fate for the same reason.

He was of the view that adoption of 'deep irrigation system' which is followed in Malaysia, Thailand and Israel, can save huge quantity of underground water and surface water from wastage.

He called upon the media to disseminate agriculture related news for a day in a week. Media can play a vital role in updating the growers about new innovation in agriculture.

Foundation for Economic Development Chairman Dr MA Nasir presented the keynote paper while the DKI President Md Zahir Uddin presided over the roundtable. Chief Adviser of ATN Bangla Saiful Bari, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute Director General Dr Md Saahidul Islam, among other agriculturists, addressed the roundtable.

Dr MA Nasir in his keynote paper said that our media is not giving proper attention in publishing or airing agriculture related news during its prime time.

Saiful Bari laid stress on coordinated efforts for the development of agriculture sector.

He called upon the Government to stop use of agricultural land in non-productive sector.

Md Saahidul Islam called for strengthening the department of agriculture extension to enable it to supply agriculture inputs to growers in time.