BSS, Rajshahi :
Agriculture extension officials urged their field level subordinates to put in their best efforts to supplement the government efforts of reducing the import of citrus fruits through boosting internal production.
They said all the entities concerned should come forward and work together to boost the fruit production after the best uses of modern technologies and existing natural resources to make the country self-reliant in this field.
The officials made the call while addressing a daylong regional workshop styled “Extension, Management and Yield Enhancement of Citrus Fruits” at BGB Party Point in the city on Wednesday.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and On Farm Wing jointly organized the workshop in association with the project of Extension, Management and Yield Enhancement of Citrus Fruits.
Director of the on farm wing Chandi Das Kundu addressed the meeting as chief guest while DAE Additional Director AKM Shahriar and Director of the project Faruque Ahmed spoke as special guests with DAE Additional Director Deb Dulal Dhali in the chair.
DAE Deputy Directors Shamsul Haque and Monzurul Huda, Deputy Director of
Horticulture Centre Abdul Awal and Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Centre Dr Abdul Alim also spoke.
The workshop was told that Taka 126.43-crore project is being implemented in 123 upazilas of 30 districts with the main thrust of uplifting the production of citrus fruits to around 10 to 15 percent by 2023.
Chandi Das Kundu said the greater Rajshahi and Bogura districts and the adjacent areas have been regarded as the country’s most prospective fruit producing region. Production of fruit is one of the major income-generating activities in the region.
He added that the people are becoming increasingly interested in horticulture and planting various fruit saplings around their homesteads or nearby open spaces.
Fruit farming becomes most profitable than other crops in recent years bringing fortunes to thousands of farmers and commoners in the region during the past few years.
This trend has created a huge demand for saplings of fruit bearing and other trees in the area, he added.
In terms of food and nutritive values green and ripe fruits are vital as these are enriched with enormous vitamin A, B, C, calcium and iron which are essential for human body irrespective of age and sex. So, boosted up fruit farming is very important and helpful for the society as a whole.
