The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a daylong regional workshop here on Thursday called upon field level officials to motivate the farmers to enhance seed yield for increasing production of paddy, wheat and jute.

Terming the quality seed as the precondition for increasing production of the major foodgrains and the golden fibre, they said all the authorities concerned especially the government level agricultural officials should put in their best efforts in this regard.

They viewed that field level extension of improved technology and knowledge about improved varieties and their availability is very essential to encourage the cultivators. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under its 'Farmer's level quality paddy, wheat and jute seed production, preservation and distribution Project' arranged the workshop at NCDP conference hall.

Main thrust of the Project is to fulfil the demands of quality seeds of paddy and wheat for enhancing production of the crops to make the nation self-reliant in food and jute as economic crops.

Speakers observed that the farmers suffer and face harassment for quality seeds during the sowing time every year as the supply of quality seeds is very limited in comparison to the demand. Taking advantage of the situation, they said many private companies deceit farmers providing them with inferior quality seeds.

To overcome the crisis, they said the DAE has undertaken various seed production and distribution projects and the field level officials concerned have a vital role in making the projects a total success.

Additional Director of the DAE Abul Basher and Project Director Abdul Matin addressed the workshop as the chief and special guests respectively with DAE Deputy Director of Natore Shakhawat Ali in the chair.

The speakers said importance should be given to training of farmers on various issues concerned particularly selection of land, land preparation, seed-variety and seed-sowing, application of fertilizer, irrigation, crop-cutting, yield detection and seed preservation.

Similarly, they laid stress on establishing demonstration plots in comparatively suitable places so that a large number of farmers could get chance to visit those.

They urged the participants to motivate the trained farmers so that they disseminate their acquired knowledge among the fellow farmers to cultivate paddy, wheat and jute in modern and scientific method so that the production of quality and quantity seeds could be enhanced.

According to the meeting sources, the five-year Project would be implemented in all the districts and upazilas of the country by spending Taka 84.97 crore. The project will create 9,90,180 capable farmers for ensuring production of 2,35,050 tonnes of paddy, 42,000 tonnes of wheat and 350 tonnes of jute seed by 2012.

Some 120 district and upazila level agriculture officials from eight districts under the region attended the workshop and gave their views on how to make the project a complete success.