City Desk :
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahariar Alam urged the field-level agricultural officials, scientists and researchers to expand the modern technologies to the grassroots farmers for boosting agricultural production.
He said substantial and sustainable expansion of modern technologies can be the effective means of making the agriculture sector profitable and successful that is very important for ensuring food security.
He came up with the observation on the twentieth instant while inaugurating a three-day Agriculture Technology Fair- 2022 in Rajshahi district as chief guest, reports BSS.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) organized the fair at Charghat Upazila Parishad Complex under its project titled “Agriculture Development Project of Rajshahi Division through Extension of Modern Technology”.
Upazila Chairman Fakhrul Islam and Pourashava Mayor Ekramul Haque also spoke with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Syeda Samira in the chair.
Shahriar Alam said the present government under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has attached top priority on the agriculture sector to boost its yield to meet the country’s demand.
So, all the officials and staff concerned should discharge their duties withutmost sincerity and honesty to supplement the government endeavor after the best uses of modern technologies, he said.
He said the government has set a target of doubling the food production, while maize production to one crore tonnes from the existing 50 lakh tonnes by 2030.
The meeting was apprised that the five-year project is being implemented in 67 upazilas of all eight districts in the division at a cost of around Tk 147.03 crore since January, 2020.
Around 86,430 farmers and 7350 others will be imparted training aimed at successful expansion of modern tech in the agriculture sector in the division with intervention of the project.
Another 93,780 people, including 86,430 farmers will be brought under a two-day need-based training course in different batches as 25,820 demonstrations of new technologies and crop varieties and plants will be made.
Upon successful implementation by December, 2024, the project will help increase cropping intensity to 242 percent from 237 percent through expansion of modern agriculture technologies.
Besides, the project is intended to enhance production of paddy, pulse and oilseed to 12 percent each, wheat and maize to 10 percent each, spice to 13 per cent, vegetables to 15 percent and fruits to 14 percent.
