RANGPUR, Feb 23 (BSS): The land on the Karotoa Valley ecological zone comprising of five northern districts is more fertile for tea cultivation than the Surma Valley ecological area comprising of three districts in greater Sylhet.
"Farmers can earn higher profits by cultivating tea on the land in Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts in the Karotoa Valley in shorter period," said Member of Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) Md Golam Mowla.
Mr Mowla said this while addressing a post-rally workshop arranged by BTB at Domar upazila auditorium in Nilphamari district on Wednesday afternoon to expand small-scale tea farming in the upazila, a press release.
Fifty new tea growers of the upazila took part in the event arranged under 'Expansion of Small Holding Tea Cultivation in Northern Bangladesh Project' being implemented since 2015 to expand tea farming on 500 hectares of land within 2020 in the valley.
Earlier, a rally with participation of tea farmers, officials of BTB and Department of Agriculture Extension, public representatives and religious leaders was brought out on the roads to inspire local people in tea cultivation.
With Domar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ummey Fatima in the chair, Director (In-charge) of the Project Development Unit of BTB at Srimangal Dr AKM Rafiqul Haque attended the workshop as special guest.
Senior Scientific Officer of BTB at Panchagarh and Project Director of the 'Expansion of Small Holding Tea Cultivation in Northern Bangladesh Project' Dr Mohammad Shameem Al Mamun delivered keynote presentation in the workshop.
Domar Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Jafar Iqbal and Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Domar Police Station Biswadeb Roy also spoke.
The experts inspired local farmers in expanding small-scale tea cultivation in the upazila to earn more profits for improving their economic condition and standard of living within a short period of time.
Dr. Rafiqul Haque discussed the profitable side of tea farming and various aspects of the Kartoa Valley having brighter prospect for its expanding cultivation to improve agro-economy in the region.
Dr Mamun provided training to the farmers on preparing and transplantation of quality tea saplings, nursing of planted saplings, management of shade, fertilisers, pesticides, diseases, weeds and tea nurseries, pruning of tea plants, plucking of tea-leaves.
The chief guest expressed firm confidence that the workshop would help usher in a new horizon of expanding tea cultivation in Domar upazila to rapidly improve socio-economic conditions of local people.
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