Farmers urged to expand cotton farming in Barind tract

FE Team | Published: June 29, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

RAJSHAHI, Jun 28 (BSS): Speakers at a daylong discussion urged the farmers and others concerned to expand cotton farming in the vast Barind tract for boosting up its production to meet up the country's demand.
They viewed prospect of boosting cotton production in the drought-prone barind region is bright as its topography and climatic condition suitable for the cash crop.
For the sake of best uses of the prospective scenario and as adaptive means of changed climatic condition, the farmers should come forward towards the farming so that they can gain more money from the cultivation side by side with meeting up the national demand.
The observations came at a regional workshop titled "Extension of Cotton Farming in Barind Tract Amidst Changed Climate" held at the conference hall of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) in Rajshahi metropolis on Friday. Cotton Development Board (CDB) under its 'Extensive Cotton Cultivation Programme' organized the workshop.
Joint Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry Jamsher Ahmed Khandaker addressed the opening session as the chief guest with CDB Executive Director Abdul Latif in the chair.
Additional Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Nurul Amin, Deputy Director Abul Kalam Azad, Additional Director of CDB Dr Farid Uddin and Deputy Director Dr Tasdikur Rahman spoke as special guests.
The speakers viewed that the cotton production could be enhanced to a greater extent if necessary measures were adopted and due importance was given to the sector. Government attention is very much needed to proper exposure of the sector's potentialities, they added.
Considering the demand of the country's textile industries, the local cotton growers can meet only a meager 3-5 per cent of the annual demand and the rest is met through import. Chief Guest Jamsher Ahmed said there is an enormous prospect of boosting cotton production after the best uses of existing natural resources. Cotton Development Board has adopted a five- year project titled "Extensive Cotton Cultivation" considering importance of the sector and its further development.