Call to expand production of BARI Caon-2

GAIBANDHA, Apr 29 (BSS): Agri-scientists at a function in the district laid emphasis on the need for farming BARI released foxtail millet (Caon)-2 at larger scale on the char land to get desired output.

"The BARI Caon-2 can be harvested at least 10-12 days ago for being early variety and the production of the crop is 1.5 times more than the local variety. A farmer can get 10-12 maunds of caon from one bigha of char land and earn Tk 10,000 to Tk 12,000 through selling", they said.

They made the observations while addressing a field day on the visit of BARI Caon-2 field at Chinirpatal Char under Shaghata upazila in the district on Saturday.

On Farm Research Division, BARI Gaibandha arranged the field day for the farmers under the project of Strengthening of Horticulture Research and Dissemination of Field and Horticultural Crops in the Char Land Areas.

Chief scientific officer (CSO), Research Division (RD), BARI Gazipur Dr. ASM Mahbubur Rahman Khan addressed the function as the chief guest while senior scientific officer, RD, BARI, Gaibandha Dr. bdullah Al Mahmud presided over the ceremony.

Deputy project director and also principal scientific officer (PSO) of RD, BARI Dr. M. Akkas Ali and PSO of Tuber Crops Research Centre, Bogura Dr. Julficar Haider Prodhan and PSO of RD, BARI Dr. M. Shahidul Alam were present at the event as the special guests while scientific officer here Aminul Islam was the moderator.

As most of the char land remains fallow after recession of flood water in Rabi and Kharif-1 seasons, an emphasis should be given to farm the high yielding varieties of crops including BARI Caon-2 on the land, the agri-scientists said.