BSS, Rangpur :
Agriculture experts have stressed on effective weed management through ensuring optimum use of herbicides to substantially increase food production saving crops worth over Taka 6,000 crore annually in the country.
“Production of rice and other crops would largely increase if effective weed management was ensured adopting conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies,” said Dr M A Mazid, former Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Citing research findings, he said unrestricted growth of weed causes damages to 37 percent crop yields with 32.2 percent loss in food crops including 41.3 percent in cereals, 31.2 percent in pulses, 40.8 percent in oilseeds and 39.2 percent in fibre crops.
“Huge quantity of crops could be saved by improving knowledge of the agri-scientists, extension officers and herbicide traders to disseminate latest technologies among farmers on effective weed management methods and safer use of herbicides,” he said.
Talking to BSS, Dr Mazid, also former Associate Director and Adviser- Agriculture of BRAC International, discussed wide range of topics on the extent of crop damages following growth of different kinds of weeds with proper management methods.
He narrated about modern and scientific knowledge on classification of weeds, weed control methods, herbicide mode of action, herbicide resistance, herbicide formulation, calibration of sprayers and determination of spray volume.
“The farmers would get maximum benefits if they apply herbicides at pre-emergence and post emergence periods in the crop fields adopting the cropping system-based weed management methods both in dry-land farming and wet-land farming,” he said.
He also narrated the herbicide volume to be sprayed for specific land area, significance and utility of herbicide label and Material Safety Data Sheet, safety requirements in spraying herbicides and personal protective equipment required in spraying operation. Dr MA Mazid also put special emphasis on effective ways of using herbicides for weed control that might be dangerous for human health in the end and suggested use of low rate of herbicides.
Dinajpur Hub Coordinator of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Anarul Haque stressed on popularising CA-based technologies for ensuring effective weed management in their crop fields to get increased yield.
“It is very essential to control weeds safely, timely and effectively using herbicides to optimise crop production at reduced cost in conservation agriculture as the knowledge level on herbicide is at rudimentary level in Bangladesh,” he said.
Agriculture experts have stressed on effective weed management through ensuring optimum use of herbicides to substantially increase food production saving crops worth over Taka 6,000 crore annually in the country.
“Production of rice and other crops would largely increase if effective weed management was ensured adopting conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies,” said Dr M A Mazid, former Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Citing research findings, he said unrestricted growth of weed causes damages to 37 percent crop yields with 32.2 percent loss in food crops including 41.3 percent in cereals, 31.2 percent in pulses, 40.8 percent in oilseeds and 39.2 percent in fibre crops.
“Huge quantity of crops could be saved by improving knowledge of the agri-scientists, extension officers and herbicide traders to disseminate latest technologies among farmers on effective weed management methods and safer use of herbicides,” he said.
Talking to BSS, Dr Mazid, also former Associate Director and Adviser- Agriculture of BRAC International, discussed wide range of topics on the extent of crop damages following growth of different kinds of weeds with proper management methods.
He narrated about modern and scientific knowledge on classification of weeds, weed control methods, herbicide mode of action, herbicide resistance, herbicide formulation, calibration of sprayers and determination of spray volume.
“The farmers would get maximum benefits if they apply herbicides at pre-emergence and post emergence periods in the crop fields adopting the cropping system-based weed management methods both in dry-land farming and wet-land farming,” he said.
He also narrated the herbicide volume to be sprayed for specific land area, significance and utility of herbicide label and Material Safety Data Sheet, safety requirements in spraying herbicides and personal protective equipment required in spraying operation. Dr MA Mazid also put special emphasis on effective ways of using herbicides for weed control that might be dangerous for human health in the end and suggested use of low rate of herbicides.
Dinajpur Hub Coordinator of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Anarul Haque stressed on popularising CA-based technologies for ensuring effective weed management in their crop fields to get increased yield.
“It is very essential to control weeds safely, timely and effectively using herbicides to optimise crop production at reduced cost in conservation agriculture as the knowledge level on herbicide is at rudimentary level in Bangladesh,” he said.
