BSS, Rajshahi :
Farming of crops, 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, 14 tissue culture laboratories are now functioning commercially in Rajshahi. Farmers are producing crops or vegetables by using these plantlets.
It is learnt that there are more than 100 tissue culture laboratories which are being run as research organisations, commercial enterprises and educational institutions. The largest number of tissue culture laboratories is situated in Rajshahi.
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 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, Project Director 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.
“In last 1987, we had started developing technology of the tissue culture method and subsequently become successful, said Professor Dr Monzur Hossain of Botany Department of Rajshahi University.
Since then, the developed technology is being disseminated among both the private and public level seeds producing farms significantly.
He 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.
Prof Monzur Hossain 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.
Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rajshahi, 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.
Due importance should be given on more production of the seeds along with easy availability among the farmers and urged the successful farmers to disseminate their acquired knowledge among the fellow farmers.
Meanwhile, the DAE has set a target of producing 33,47,000 tonnes of potato from 1,67,374 hectares of land in eight districts under Rajshahi division during the coming season.
The early variety potato will appear in the local markets within next few months as farmers have started cultivating those much ahead than that of the conventional time in the region this year, sources said.
