Barind tract needs conservation Agri technology, say experts

RAJSHAHI, Sept 12 (BSS): Time has come for wide-ranging and sustainable expansion and promotion of conservation agriculture (CA) based technologies in the drought-prone Barind tract to protect its soil health from further degradation, agricultural scientists and researchers in a discussion here said.
They viewed principles of conservation agriculture are use of reduced tillage, retention of some amounts of residues in the field, optimum use of natural resources, sustainable and profitable crop diversification and its rotation and judicious use of fertilisers and pesticides.
The technology could be the effective means of utilizing the minimum amount of water for crop establishment like avoiding paddling operation in present context of climate change especially unpredictable rainfall, unusual drought and other natural calamities.
Field level agricultural officials and staffs are the key players to reach the modern technologies to the farmers' doorsteps so that they are habituated to promote those successfully.
The observations came at a two-day planning workshop styled "Promotion of Conservation Agriculture Technologies in Drought-prone Barind Tract" concluded at the seminar room of Regional Wheat Research Center (RWRC) in Rajshahi city Friday.
RWRC organised the workshop in association with Sustainable Resilient Farming System Intensification (SRFSI) project. Director (Research) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute Dr Jalal Uddin addressed the discussion as chief guest with Chief Scientific Officer Dr ASM Mahbubur Rahman Khan in the chair.
Principal Scientific Officers Dr Shafiqul Islam and Dr Ilias Hossain, Senior Scientific Officer Nur-E-Alam Siddiqui and Scientific Officer Zahedul Islam also spoke.
During his keynote-paper presentation, Dr Ilias Hossain said raised-beds technology facilitate sowing without waste of time allowing crop growth to better match water availability.
Under the conventional system, the single largest constraint requires planting of wheat in the country late in winter, leading to a poor yield. Bed planting improves water distribution and irrigation efficiency, gives better results in using fertilisers and pesticides and reduces weed infestation and crop lodging. It saves crops from disturbance from rats, Dr Hossain said.
The pattern helps farmers save 30 percent irrigation water and 30 to 40 percent of seeds and fertilisers.
He said some proven benefits of the conservation agriculture-based machinery such as power tiller operated seeder (PTOS) and bed former or planters are included early planting, increased yields, reduce production costs and water requirement and help improve the environment by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions.
International donor organisations should support such kind of need-oriented agricultural activity for its large-scale promotion which needs supply of need-based adequate machineries.