BSS, Rajshahi :
Vegetable farming, particularly seed- potato, through tissue culture has brought a silent revolution in agricultural sector in Rajshahi region.
Thousands of farmers of the region have changed their lot by growing quality crops especially potato through using tissue cultured saplings.
To feed farmers with sterile saplings, more than 15 tissue culture laboratories are now functioning commercially in Rajshahi. Farmers are producing crops or vegetables by using these plantlets.
Already many farmers attained bumper production of potato, tomato, strawberry, banana and gerbera flower after producing plantlet of those through using tissue culture technology and many of them changed their fortune.
“Side by side the government institutions and the private entrepreneurs are showing interest to boost the mother potato- seed production locally,” says Abdur Rahim, a farmer of Bargachhi village under Paba Upazila.
He said the potato growers are very interested to cultivate potato through using the foundation seeds as they have been reaping more yields.
Another farmer Golam Rasul from Godagari Upazila said the tissue culture seeds are 100 percent virus and disease free, healthy, high quality and environment-friendly in addition to comparatively higher-yielding and hygienic.
ATM Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Manager (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities, said there is a bright prospect of overcoming the existing crisis of breeder potato-seed through successful expansion of tissue culture technology.
Professor Dr Monzur Hossain of Department of Botany in Rajshahi University depicted the salient features of the technology and mentioned that potato production could be enhanced to at least 50 percent more on the existing acreage if only the quality seed are ensured among the growers.
He said importance should be given on encouraging the farmers on the best uses of the developed technology to enhance the quality seeds production.
“Qualitative and quantitative production completely depends on quality seeds.” To meet-up the local demands, the nation has to depend on import from abroad through spending huge hard-earned foreign currencies.
“We can reduce dependence on import enhancing domestic production through proper and best uses of the modern technologies in the farming,” he said adding that the tissue culture is one of the potential and proven technologies.
Fazlur Rahman, Additional Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said the private entrepreneurs and farmers have been showing their keen interest in producing the potato-seed after using the tissue culture technology.
He added that there has been a tremendous demand for tissue cultured saplings in Rajshahi. Not only farmers, but many educated youths, business personnel and traders have become self-reliant by using tissue cultured saplings in this region, he added.
Vegetable farming, particularly seed- potato, through tissue culture has brought a silent revolution in agricultural sector in Rajshahi region.
Thousands of farmers of the region have changed their lot by growing quality crops especially potato through using tissue cultured saplings.
To feed farmers with sterile saplings, more than 15 tissue culture laboratories are now functioning commercially in Rajshahi. Farmers are producing crops or vegetables by using these plantlets.
Already many farmers attained bumper production of potato, tomato, strawberry, banana and gerbera flower after producing plantlet of those through using tissue culture technology and many of them changed their fortune.
“Side by side the government institutions and the private entrepreneurs are showing interest to boost the mother potato- seed production locally,” says Abdur Rahim, a farmer of Bargachhi village under Paba Upazila.
He said the potato growers are very interested to cultivate potato through using the foundation seeds as they have been reaping more yields.
Another farmer Golam Rasul from Godagari Upazila said the tissue culture seeds are 100 percent virus and disease free, healthy, high quality and environment-friendly in addition to comparatively higher-yielding and hygienic.
ATM Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Manager (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities, said there is a bright prospect of overcoming the existing crisis of breeder potato-seed through successful expansion of tissue culture technology.
Professor Dr Monzur Hossain of Department of Botany in Rajshahi University depicted the salient features of the technology and mentioned that potato production could be enhanced to at least 50 percent more on the existing acreage if only the quality seed are ensured among the growers.
He said importance should be given on encouraging the farmers on the best uses of the developed technology to enhance the quality seeds production.
“Qualitative and quantitative production completely depends on quality seeds.” To meet-up the local demands, the nation has to depend on import from abroad through spending huge hard-earned foreign currencies.
“We can reduce dependence on import enhancing domestic production through proper and best uses of the modern technologies in the farming,” he said adding that the tissue culture is one of the potential and proven technologies.
Fazlur Rahman, Additional Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said the private entrepreneurs and farmers have been showing their keen interest in producing the potato-seed after using the tissue culture technology.
He added that there has been a tremendous demand for tissue cultured saplings in Rajshahi. Not only farmers, but many educated youths, business personnel and traders have become self-reliant by using tissue cultured saplings in this region, he added.
