Rajshahi farmers being trained on agro-technology from FFS

RAJSHAHI, Dec 1: Farmers of various upazilas of Rajshahi district are being trained on scientific agro-technology from Farmer's Field School to ensure food security of their families. Thousands of farmers of the district are becoming self-sufficient by being trained through FFS. Department of Agricultural Extension was assisting the farmers to learn the scientific and appropriate technology in farming

DAE, Rajshahi sources informed, farmers have already been trained on Integrated Crop Management. In a year, DAE trains the farmers two times on IPM and on Integrated Farm Management Component (IFMC) through those field schools.

Sources further informed, there are 54 IFMC field schools in Rajshahi. Of those, 10 are in Durgapur, six each in Paba, Tanore, Godagari, Puthia, Charghat and Bagmara and two in Mohanpur. 50 farmers are getting training in each school. Fifty percent of the trainees belonged to females.

It is learnt, in IFMC schools, farmers can learn about the technique of scientific methods of farming of paddy, wheat, maize, sugar cane, fruits and vegetables. Moreover, they can also learn how to make an extra income by rearing cattle, goats, chicken, fish at crop fields through scientific ways and how to use the agricultural technological tools. Practical classes are also conducted through these schools at the farmers' fields.

Deputy Director of DAE, Rajshahi Hazat Ali informed, in each school farmers are taught through technical session, integrated agriculture and social session, social problem related to agriculture and appropriate technology session. Trainings are conducted to prepare 'trainers' and later on Community trainers are selected from the trainers who can train new trainees.

Every training session is monitored closely so that trainees get the best training. DAE and Agriculture Extension Service (AES) were supplying training-materials for the trainees. After completion of training, Farmers clubs are formed in each village. Within a short span of time, hundreds of farmers of several hundred small, medium, marginal and even solvent farmers  of various upazilas have been trained on food security and poverty alleviation. DAE was also assisting those clubs with regular financial support, informed DAE sources.

Zahidul Islam of Gourihar village under Durgapur upazila informed, they are trained for 40-weeks on various subjects including modern and appropriate technique for farming. He informed, earlier they used to farm on conventional process but after being trained, he was using modern technology in farming and other farmers of his village were also being inspired to follow him.

Khairul Islam, President of Delsadpur IPM club of Godagari informed, they were using water-saving system irrigation at the crop field, using granular urea in their fields and applying less-fertiliser using technology LCC process. Other farmers were also getting interested by following their processes.

    bwjs123@gmail.com