The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Experts and scientists have opined that the country has immense prospects to achieve self-reliance in oil seed, pulse and spice production by using latest agro- technologies and disseminating proper knowledge.

Self-reliance in edible oil could be achieved through increasing production of oil seeds in a comprehensive and well- coordinated manner saving over Taka 5,000 crore annually by bringing its import to the zero level, they said.

They also underscored the need for increasing production of all varieties of pulse and spicy crops, especially the high yielding and hybrid varieties, throughout the country with a view to achieve a complete self-reliance on these essentials in near future.

To achieve the goal, the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has been implementing a Special Action Plan (SAP) for increasing oil seed, pulse and spice productions in Rangpur Agriculture Zone (RAZ) as elsewhere in the country.

The SAP is being implemented in all eight districts of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts under the RAZ with financial assistance of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) and technical assistance of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI).

Deputy Directors of DAE Nur Mohammad and Aftab Uddin Khan, Scientific Officer of BARI Zannatul Ferdous, Scientific Officer of Soil Resource Development Institute Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Deputy Director of BADC Asadur Rahman, RDRS expert Salah Uddin recently narrated BSS on importance of increasing oil seed productions.

They laid emphasis on the need for Increasing Mustard Cultivation and Ground Nuts and Soybean farming to move further forward in achieving the goals using the latest agro- technologies in the region.

Under the ongoing SAP in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon and Nilphamari districts, tremendous successes were achieved in oil seed farming last season.

The experts said the RAZ that always produces huge surplus quantity of major crops like rice, potato, maize, vegetables, has tremendous potentialities to increase production of all varieties of oil seeds, pulse and spices through proper crop diversification, land management and utilization of the latest technologies.

They suggested that the mixed and inter- cropping methods of crop farming with proper seed and pest management has already been proved to be very effective for increasing production of all these crops everywhere in the region.

Productions of these crops could be increased in RAZ further through conducting motivational and awareness building activities for the farmers and providing them with the latest technologies, quality seeds, inputs and imparting proper training, they said.

They asked for cultivating hybrid varieties of oil seeds, pulses and spicy crops invented by BARI and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) in between the gap of harvesting the short duration BRRI Dhan-33 and cultivation of Boro to get maximum production and quality seeds.

Under the SAP that was launched since 2004, hundreds of block exhibitions have so far been demonstrated under the supervision of the DAE experts and high quality foundation seeds, necessary fertilizers, pesticides and inputs have been distributed among the farmers in the RAZ.

The experts said that increased oil seed, spices and pulse cultivation would not only boost their productions and meet the local demand but would also improve soil health and meet nutritional demand of human body simultaneously.