Thrust on raising crop intensity in Sylhet

Our Correspondent

SYLHET, June 11: Speakers at a national workshop in Sylhet on Monday laid emphasis on a revised and new project for expanding modern agriculture and crop intensity raising in the Sylhet division.

Considering the different regional aspects they pointed the challenges to achieving the goal.

The ongoing project has already brought changes in the agriculture of the region, the meeting it was told, adding, Tk 54,86,26,000 project will end on June 30 this year.

The Sylhet division's crop intensity went up to 169 per cent from 164 per cent in 2014-2015, the starting year of the project, the speakers said. However, the national figure is at 192.

Director General of DAE Mir Nurul Alam addressed the workshop as the chief guest while Project Director of the Sylhet region's crop intensity raising project-Md. Ohiduzzaman, Deputy Director DAE headquarter Moazzem Hossain, also Secretary general of the BCS (Agriculture) Association spoke as the special guests. DAE's Additional Director, Sylhet region Md, Shahjahan chaired the discussion.

Officials and agriculture scientists from the different agri-related institutions in the region also addressed while the Deputy Directors Mohammad Ali of Habiganj, Bashir Ahmed Sarker of Sunamganj, Kazi Jahangir Kabir of Moulvibazar and Md. Salah Uddin of Sylhet also presented the district-wise progress and challenges.

The chief guest said the government had already stressed modern and commercial farming of crops since we achieved success in food production.

Now use of mechanised tools would be raised and the government wants to reach the facilities to doorstep of farmers. For a proper planning we need accurate agriculture census, which is already on all over the country, he added.

"We are planning short, medium and long term programme for a sustainable agriculture", the Mr Alam further said.

He said the steps are on to launch a new project for farming expansion and raising further crop intensity in this region as there are a lot of things to do.

Due to the activities under the said project Aus farming has been increased on additional 32,407 hectares, Aman on 27,216 hectares and Boro on 49,305 hectares.

Farmers training were done through 2450 batches while the project's beneficiary farmers training were provided through 2,000 batches, having 30 in each batch. Under the programme there has been a good increase of maize farming in the region, the event was told.

Different flood tolerant, late or early varieties as well as newer and short-duration verities of paddy like BRRI Dhan-58, 49, 51, 52 and 48 have been introduced in Sylhet region in recent years since the area faces lot of challenges from the nature.

[email protected]