RANGPUR, Mar 29 (BSS): Experts at an orientation workshop have stressed on strengthening channels to promote char-suitable jute cultivation and retting practices to enhance production of the fibre along with other crops in the riverine char areas.
Strengthening Channels for Promotion of Char-suitable Jute Cultivation & Retting Practices (M4C) project organised the workshop with financial assistance of the Swiss Contract at conference room of Regional Office of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) here on Saturday.
The workshop was organised for informing officials and experts of the concerned agriculture related departments, organisations and NGOs about the M4C project activities being conducted on cultivation, retting practices and marketing of jute in char areas in ten riverine northern districts.
Director of the Crops Wing of the DAE from Dhaka Khamarbari Agriculturist Md. Abdul Baten attended the workshop as the chief guest with Rangpur Regional Additional Director of the DAE Agriculturist Pratap Kumar Mandal in the chair.
Director (Agriculture) of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) Mohammad Hossain, its Chief Scientific Officer Md. Majibar Rahman and Deputy Director (Jute) of the DAE Agriculturist Md. Abdul Latif attended as the special guests.
The district and upazila level officials of DAE from Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts under Rangpur Agriculture Region, officials and executives of Mohideb Samaj Kallyan Samity and Swiss Contact participated in the workshop.
Market Development Coordinator of the M4C project Yasser Arafat delivered the main technical presentation putting emphasis on resolving prevailing various problems and prospects of cultivation of quality jute in the char lands, retting and classification of the fibre and its marketing.
He said the upazila level agriculture officers and block level sub-assistant agriculture officers will be provided training to make them master trainers so that they could conduct training for farmers to promote char-suitable jute cultivation and retting practices.
The M4C project activities began in 2012 and will end by June in 2016 next, he said.
The agriculture experts urged the field level officials of agriculture related departments and organisations for enhancing cultivation of the char-suitable jute varieties and retting practices in char lands to further diversify crop cultivation in riverine areas.
The chief guest put emphasis on disseminating the latest technologies to the farmers in the riverine areas for enhancing cultivation and production of quality jute fibre along with other crops to improve the socioeconomic condition and livelihoods of char population.
