BSS, Rangpur :
Experts at a daylong workshop have called for expanding a newly evolved cropping pattern that enables the farmers in getting four crops annually on the same land to ensure food security under adverse climate.
The new cropping pattern of ‘Short duration Aman rice- mustard/potato-mug bean- short duration Aus (pariza) rice’ also improves soil health, environment and livelihoods of the rural farmers and the poor, they said.
RDRS Bangladesh organised the workshop on ‘Climate Change and New Cropping Pattern for Food Security’ at its Training Centre in Panchagarh district town for ‘Up-scaling Four Crops on the same land in Sequence’ on Monday.
The NGO has been expanding the newer cropping pattern among the farmers after developing it in cooperation with Krishi Gobeshona Foundation and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for Panchagarh Sahir Uddin Ahammad attended the workshop as the chief guest with Programme Manager (Field Coordination) of RDRS Bangladesh, Panchagarh Hasina Begum in the chair.
Assistant Coordinator (Agriculture) of RDRS Bangladesh Syeda Nuhara Begum, Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Matin, Agriculture Officer of RDRS Bangladesh MA Akhter, Boda Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Al Mamun Ar Rashid, addressed.
Field level officials of the DAE, members of different union federations, male and female farmers from Boda, Atoari and Sadar upazilas of Panchagarh, local journalists and elite participated in the workshop.
A number of farmers narrated their experience on how they have been successfully cultivating four crops annually in sequence on the same land adopting the cropping pattern to earn a net profit of Taka 18,000 per bigha (33 decimals).
The speakers said the new cropping pattern improves soil health, environment, ecology and livelihoods of the poor by creating huge farm activities and jobs in the fields during seasonal lean periods.
After harvesting short duration Aman rice now, farmers will sow mustard or potato seed and then mug bean to harvest the pulse within 60-70 days for cultivating parija (Aus) rice to be followed by farming of short duration Aman again on the same land, they said.
The chief guest called upon all concerned for popularising the new cropping pattern among the farmers to ensure food security by enhancing sustainable crop intensification under adverse climate change impacts.
