The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Agriculture Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed yesterday said foodgrain production of the country would increase by additional four million tonnes applying digital fertiliser system in the fields.

He was addressing as the chief guest at the launching ceremony of "Digital Fertilizer Recommendation System" at AKM Giasuddin Milky auditorium at Farmgate in the city.

Soil Resource Department Institute (SRDI), a research organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture launched "Digital Fertiliser Recommendation System" jointly with the Katalyst. The Grameenphone and Banglalink will work to facilitate farmers' selection of different fertilisers and their precise dosage for different crops.

Mustaq hoped that the foodgrain production would increase to 24 million tonnes from 20 million tonnes through countrywide use of the system. The benefit of the service, he hoped would twofold -- increase in yield and decrease in production cost. As proven from SRDI studies, the use of fertiliser as recommended by the system would increase average yield of rice by 20 to 25 per cent and other crops by 10 to 15 per cent.

Mustaq Ahmed also formally launched the pilot phase of the system.

Katalyst General Manager James Blewett, DAE Director General Md Sayeed Ali and BARC Executive Chairman Dr Wayes Kabir were present as the special guests at the function with SRDI Director Md Hamidul Haque in the chair.

Two leading mobile phone operators, Grameenphone and Banglalink are working as channel partners in disseminating information on fertilizer recommendation by offering their respective ICT-enabled platforms-- GPCIC (Grameenphone Community Information Centers) and Banglalink Jigyasha 7676.

From now on the farmers can use either of the platforms to have precise fertilizer recommendations by providing five basic information-- name of the crop, type of land, name of the union, upazila and district.

A central database covering 459 upazilas of the country has been developed as the feedstock of the system. But under the pilot phase, farmers of 30 upazilas can avail themselves of the opportunity, Hamidul Haque said.

The upazilas are Kaunia under Rangpur district, Hatibandha under Lalmonirhat, Nageshwari, Bhurungamari and Kurigram Sadar under Kurigram, Sundarganj and Saghata under Gaibandha, Jaldhaka, Kishoreganj and Nilphamari Sadar under Nilphamari, Dhunat under Bogra, Sirajganj Sadar under Sirajganj, Khoksa under Kushtia, Damurhuda under Chuadanga, Narail Sadar under Narail, Kotchandpur under Jhenidah, Ramganj under Lakshmipur, Chatkhil, Companyganj and Sudharam under Noakhali, Ishwarganj under Mymensingh, Bhanga, Modhukhali and Alphadanga under Faridpur, Shibchar under Madaripur, Gosairhat under Shariatpur, Sharankhola and Morelganj under Bagerhat, Bakerganj under Barisal and Lalmohon under Bhola district.

SRDI and Katalyst will closely monitor the process during the pilot phase before developing a final module of the system for countrywide utilisation.