BSS, Rangpur :
Rats have been destroying 12 to 15 percent of the cereal and other crops, worth over Taka 2,000 crore, annually in the country creating huge losses to the farmers side by side threatening food security.
Agriculture experts disclosed the information at a ceremony arranged here on Thursday afternoon for launching of the month-long Rat Elimination Campaign-2015 and distribution of prizes among successful rat-killer farmers of Rangpur region.
Rangpur Regional Office of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), its Rangpur district and Sadar upazila offices jointly organised the ceremony at conference room of the Additional Director of the organisation in the city.
City Mayor valiant freedom fighter Alhaj Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu attended the ceremony to inaugurated the campaign as the chief guest with Rangpur Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md. Saiful Islam in the chair.
Deputy Director of the DAE, its District Training Officers, Deputy
Directors (Plant Protection), Upazila Agriculture Officers, Sub-assistant Plant Protections Officers, Sub-assistant Agriculture Officers, farmers and representatives of different organisations from all five districts under Rangpur Agriculture Region participated.
District Training Officer of DAE for Rangpur Mokbul Hossain delivered keynote presentation narrating the huge damages being caused by rats to crops, properties and infrastructures annually in the country suggesting the way-outs.
He said rats eat and destroy some 5 to 7 percent Aman paddy, 8 to 12 percent wheat, 5 to 7 percent potato, 6 to 9 percent pine apples and other fruits, 4 to 5 percent vegetables, 8 to 9 percent coconut garden, 20 percent stored crops and 7 to 10 percent irrigation waters causing massive losses annually.
He said that the harmful creature can also carry viruses or germs of at least 40 diseases including plague and causes havoc to embankments and its every pair can give birth up to 2,500 rats annually raising their capability for damaging crops even higher everyday.
He suggested for conducting training of farmers, students, teachers and distribution of leaflets, organising Jarigan, slide exhibition and campaigns through Imams and other religious leaders to make rat-elimination campaign successful.
Later, the chief guest distributed prizes among the farmers, sub-assistant agriculture officers and educational institutions of all five districts under Rangpur Agriculture Region for killing maximum number of rats last year.
He called upon the farmers and all concerned for stepping up rat-
elimination campaign through creating mass public awareness to achieve more success in future by saving huge crops from the colossal damages being caused by rats.
Rats have been destroying 12 to 15 percent of the cereal and other crops, worth over Taka 2,000 crore, annually in the country creating huge losses to the farmers side by side threatening food security.
Agriculture experts disclosed the information at a ceremony arranged here on Thursday afternoon for launching of the month-long Rat Elimination Campaign-2015 and distribution of prizes among successful rat-killer farmers of Rangpur region.
Rangpur Regional Office of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), its Rangpur district and Sadar upazila offices jointly organised the ceremony at conference room of the Additional Director of the organisation in the city.
City Mayor valiant freedom fighter Alhaj Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu attended the ceremony to inaugurated the campaign as the chief guest with Rangpur Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md. Saiful Islam in the chair.
Deputy Director of the DAE, its District Training Officers, Deputy
Directors (Plant Protection), Upazila Agriculture Officers, Sub-assistant Plant Protections Officers, Sub-assistant Agriculture Officers, farmers and representatives of different organisations from all five districts under Rangpur Agriculture Region participated.
District Training Officer of DAE for Rangpur Mokbul Hossain delivered keynote presentation narrating the huge damages being caused by rats to crops, properties and infrastructures annually in the country suggesting the way-outs.
He said rats eat and destroy some 5 to 7 percent Aman paddy, 8 to 12 percent wheat, 5 to 7 percent potato, 6 to 9 percent pine apples and other fruits, 4 to 5 percent vegetables, 8 to 9 percent coconut garden, 20 percent stored crops and 7 to 10 percent irrigation waters causing massive losses annually.
He said that the harmful creature can also carry viruses or germs of at least 40 diseases including plague and causes havoc to embankments and its every pair can give birth up to 2,500 rats annually raising their capability for damaging crops even higher everyday.
He suggested for conducting training of farmers, students, teachers and distribution of leaflets, organising Jarigan, slide exhibition and campaigns through Imams and other religious leaders to make rat-elimination campaign successful.
Later, the chief guest distributed prizes among the farmers, sub-assistant agriculture officers and educational institutions of all five districts under Rangpur Agriculture Region for killing maximum number of rats last year.
He called upon the farmers and all concerned for stepping up rat-
elimination campaign through creating mass public awareness to achieve more success in future by saving huge crops from the colossal damages being caused by rats.
