BSS, Rangpur :
Experts at a farmers’ field day here Thursday stressed for expanded adoption of the eco-friendly raised bed technology to increase production of cereal crops at a reduced cost to ensure food security.
RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, organised the field day on the maize field of farmer Ashraful Alam in village Chaorapara Monthona bazaar under Barobeel union of Gangachara upazila in the district to demonstrate the benefits of the raised bed planting technology for better maize production.
The NGO has been expanding the conservation agriculture technology among the farmers with the assistances of Colonel University and financial cooperation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the ‘Food for Progress (FFP) Programme.’
Afzal Hossain, Scientific Officer of the On Farm Research Division of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) in Rangpur, attended the field day programme as the chief guest with local elite Amjad Hossain in the chair.
Chairman of Barobeel union Kajol Mohammad Nurun Nabi and Local Service Provider Moydul Islam Milan addressed the occasion as special guests.
Field Assistant of Agriculture Unit of RDRS Bangladesh Shahinul Islam, farmers Ashraful Alam and Afinul Islam also addressed.
Senior Agriculture Officer of the NGO Anup Kumar Ghosh narrated the raised bed technology for cultivation of maize and other cereal crops, necessary machineries and its use, agronomic advantage, crop management and use of the technology in diverse situations to increase production at lowest costs.
A total of 80 male and female farmers of the area, agriculture officials, local service providers, civil society members and journalists participated in the function.
The speakers discussed various benefits of the raised bed technology that increases cropping intensity several times enhancing crop production through reducing the existing time gap between the two crops.
The raised bed technology allows higher yield from 10 to 20 percent saving 30 percent irrigation water and 30 to 40 percent of seeds and fertilisers to maintain sound soil health and easing the agronomical management in crop fields, they said.
The chief guest suggested the farmers for expanded adoption of raised bed technology and appropriate farm machineries like power tiller operated seeder, strip till and zero till and bed planter to enhance production of maize and other cereal crops.
