BSS, Rajshahi :
Rajshahi Zilla Parishad distributed cheques worth around Taka 2.93 crore to 210 development projects here day.
The parishad distributed cheques for the financial support and for infrastructure development purposes of various educational institutions, mosques, temple and eidgah of 2017-18 fiscal under the Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Zila Parishad Chairman Muhammad Ali Sarker attended the cheques distribution ceremony as chief guest. Chief Executive Officer Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary Khandaker Mahbubur Rahman, Panel Chairman Naimul Huda and members Abdus Salam and Abul Fazal Pramanik also spoke.
City unit general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Dablu Sarker and District unit secretary Md Asaduzzaman were also present there.
Muhammad Ali Sarker urged the cheque recipients to put in their best efforts for proper and successful implementation of the projects so that the targeted people can derive total benefits out of those projects.
He said the zila parishad has been working relentlessly for supplementing the government endeavors to build digital Bangladesh.
Ali Sarker urged the project heads to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty so that hundred percent works are implemented.
AWD irrigation technology to save huge underground water
Adoption of Alternate Drying and Wetting (AWD) irrigation technology during Boro rice farming could save minimum 30 percent irrigation water substantially reducing pressure on underground water, say experts.
Talking to BSS, noted rice scientist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got Independence Award 2018 Medal (food security) this year, suggested for large-scale adoption of the simplest and effective technology to cope with scarcity of irrigation water.
“Adoption of the technology can reduce 5 numbers of irrigation, save minimum 30 percent underground water, 30 litres diesel and electricity for irrigation in addition to producing 500-kg more Boro rice per hectare bringing uncountable benefits,” he said.
He also favoured for crop zoning to cultivate more irrigation water consuming crops in the southern zones and less water consuming crops in the drought-prone northern zones as the agriculture sector is facing severe threat due to changing climate.
“The farmers have already started reaping benefits of the AWD technology following its dissemination to them by different agriculture related organisations,” said Dr Mazid, also a former chief scientific officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.
He said lifting of underground water must be reduced to the minimum as future of agriculture depends on availability of water amid a formidable threat of climate change when there is alternative to keeping food production rate increasing.
“If the AWD method was adopted for farming Boro rice on 48-lakh hectares of land in the country, 24 lakh tonnes additional paddy worth Taka 6,400 crore would be produced annually along with saving Taka 800 crore for less use of diesel and electricity,” he said.
Dr Mazid said, “The farmers generally use 3,000 to 4,000 litres irrigated underground waters to produce one kg Boro rice, whereas it needs only 1,500 to 2,000 litres when the AWD irrigation technology used.”
Rajshahi Zilla Parishad distributed cheques worth around Taka 2.93 crore to 210 development projects here day.
The parishad distributed cheques for the financial support and for infrastructure development purposes of various educational institutions, mosques, temple and eidgah of 2017-18 fiscal under the Annual Development Programme (ADP).
Zila Parishad Chairman Muhammad Ali Sarker attended the cheques distribution ceremony as chief guest. Chief Executive Officer Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary Khandaker Mahbubur Rahman, Panel Chairman Naimul Huda and members Abdus Salam and Abul Fazal Pramanik also spoke.
City unit general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Dablu Sarker and District unit secretary Md Asaduzzaman were also present there.
Muhammad Ali Sarker urged the cheque recipients to put in their best efforts for proper and successful implementation of the projects so that the targeted people can derive total benefits out of those projects.
He said the zila parishad has been working relentlessly for supplementing the government endeavors to build digital Bangladesh.
Ali Sarker urged the project heads to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty so that hundred percent works are implemented.
AWD irrigation technology to save huge underground water
Adoption of Alternate Drying and Wetting (AWD) irrigation technology during Boro rice farming could save minimum 30 percent irrigation water substantially reducing pressure on underground water, say experts.
Talking to BSS, noted rice scientist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got Independence Award 2018 Medal (food security) this year, suggested for large-scale adoption of the simplest and effective technology to cope with scarcity of irrigation water.
“Adoption of the technology can reduce 5 numbers of irrigation, save minimum 30 percent underground water, 30 litres diesel and electricity for irrigation in addition to producing 500-kg more Boro rice per hectare bringing uncountable benefits,” he said.
He also favoured for crop zoning to cultivate more irrigation water consuming crops in the southern zones and less water consuming crops in the drought-prone northern zones as the agriculture sector is facing severe threat due to changing climate.
“The farmers have already started reaping benefits of the AWD technology following its dissemination to them by different agriculture related organisations,” said Dr Mazid, also a former chief scientific officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.
He said lifting of underground water must be reduced to the minimum as future of agriculture depends on availability of water amid a formidable threat of climate change when there is alternative to keeping food production rate increasing.
“If the AWD method was adopted for farming Boro rice on 48-lakh hectares of land in the country, 24 lakh tonnes additional paddy worth Taka 6,400 crore would be produced annually along with saving Taka 800 crore for less use of diesel and electricity,” he said.
Dr Mazid said, “The farmers generally use 3,000 to 4,000 litres irrigated underground waters to produce one kg Boro rice, whereas it needs only 1,500 to 2,000 litres when the AWD irrigation technology used.”
