Zero tillage method helps boost wheat output, say experts

RANGPUR, Apr 03 (BSS): Experts at a farmers' field-day have said adoption of zero tillage method for sowing wheat seed using Power Tiller Operated Seeder (PTOS) machines increases its production saving farming costs and making its farming more profitable.

"A farmer can save Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 per bigha of land to get 3.5 tonnes of wheat per hectare by directly sowing its seed adopting zero tillage method using PTOS machines," said Gangachara Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Abdullah Al Mamun.

Mamun was addressing the event held on the exhibition plot of farmer Khairul Islam in village Paikan under Alambiditor union of Gangachara upazila in the district on Monday afternoon as the chief guest, a press release said.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and RDRS Bangladesh organised the event under the Sustainable and Resilient Farming System Intensification (SRFSI) project for Conservation Agriculture based System Intensification in the northern Bangladesh.

The project is being implemented under financial assistance of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research with support of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre to popularise adoption of zero tillage in rice-wheat farming systems.

A total of 120 male and female farmers of the area participated in the field day and observed practical demonstration of the zero tillage technologies in wheat farming using PTOS machine.

With local elite Abdul Mannan in the chair, Sub-assistant Agriculture Officer of the DAE Hafizar Rahman, its Sub-assistant Plant Protection Officer Habibur Rahman and Project Coordinator of the SRFSI project Rashedul Islam, addressed the event.

Farmer Khairul Islam narrated benefits of zero tillage method that allows sowing wheat seed in six to twelve lines at a time without disturbing most parts of land keeping soil moisture intact for using by the growing crop plants to become healthy and vigorous.

The chief guest called for adopting zero tillage method in sowing wheat seed to increase its production by conserving huge resources like water, fuel and electricity and saving labour costs to make wheat farming more profitable.