RANGPUR, Mar 11 (BSS): Expanded adoption of the eco-friendly raised bed technology would increase crop production at reduced costs to ensure food security for the gradually increasing population under adverse climatic conditions.
Agriculture experts, scientists and researchers revealed this here today (Tuesday) at a daylong workshop on 'Raised bed planting technology for better crop production' organised at the Seminar Room of RDRS Bangladesh in the city.
The Food for Progress (FFP) Programme of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Rajshahi Regional Wheat Research Centre (RWRC) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) jointly organised the workshop sponsored by the USDA and Colonel University.
Director of Wheat Research Centre at Nashipur in Dinajpur Dr Mohammed Hosain formally addressed the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest with Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for Rangpur Feroz Ahmed in the chair.
Rangpur Regional Additional Director of the DAE Krishibid Vhaskor Chakroborty attended and addressed the inaugural ceremony as the special guest.
Senior Scientific Officer of Rajshahi RWRC Dr Md Illias Hossain delivered the welcome speech while Principal Scientific Officer and Incharge of Rajshahi RWRC Dr Md Israil Hossain narrated objectives of the workshop.
Dr Md Israil Hossain, Dr Md Illias Hossain and Consultant of the FFP in Bangladesh of Colonel University Dr GM Panaullah delivered presentations on 'The raised bed technology for crop production: Machinery and its use', Agronomic advantages and crop management in raised bed technology' and Use of raised bed technology in diverse situations: Experiences from Faridpur' respectively.
Sixty participants including agriculture officials, experts, scientists and researchers of the DAE, BARI, Soil Research Development Institute, Agriculture Information Service, local service providers, farmers and journalists participated.
The Speakers elaborated benefits of the raised bed technology that increases cropping intensity several times and increased crop production through reducing the existing time gap between the two crops after application of the necessary machineries.
They said the raised bed technology allows higher yield from 10 to 20 percent saving 30 percent irrigation water and 30 to 40 percent of seeds and fertilisers to maintain sound soil health and easing the agronomical managements in crop fields.
They said bed planting system adopting the raised bed technology improves water distribution and irrigation efficiency, gives better results in using fertilizers, pesticides and reduces weed infestation and crop lodging and saves crops from disturbance of rats.
They suggested for expanded adoption of raised bed technology and appropriate farm machineries like power tiller operated seeder, strip till and zero till, bed planter, reaper and thresher to enhance crop production despite climate change impacts to ensure food security.
