IFDC likely to sign deals with two varsities
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Yasir Wardad
International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) is expected to sign agreements with two Bangladeshi universities aimed at developing suitable fertilizer applicators for applying Guti Urea (GU), officials said. IFDC will sign the agreements- one with Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the other with Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) to help the farmers apply GU granules easily, a high official of the IFDC told the FE. IFDC senior agriculture specialist Dr Mafizul Islam said that IFDC jointly with Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) was initiating GU use in Bangladesh. "Nearly 0.6 million hectares has come under GU use in this current Boro season. The quantity would be reduced by around 60,000 tonnes if proper applicators are used", he said. He said, "The 5-year Accelerating Agriculture Productivity Improvement (AAPI) project, funded by the USAID to gradually increase the use of GU gradually in 68 upazilas under 11 districts in Mymensingh and Barisal region, resulted in a reduction of usage by 16,585 tonnes this Boro season." DAE officials said, GU had been proved to be cost-effective and production booster according to this year's field reports, but at the same time some problems had been found with the present applicators.
International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) is expected to sign agreements with two Bangladeshi universities aimed at developing suitable fertilizer applicators for applying Guti Urea (GU), officials said. IFDC will sign the agreements- one with Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the other with Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) to help the farmers apply GU granules easily, a high official of the IFDC told the FE. IFDC senior agriculture specialist Dr Mafizul Islam said that IFDC jointly with Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) was initiating GU use in Bangladesh. "Nearly 0.6 million hectares has come under GU use in this current Boro season. The quantity would be reduced by around 60,000 tonnes if proper applicators are used", he said. He said, "The 5-year Accelerating Agriculture Productivity Improvement (AAPI) project, funded by the USAID to gradually increase the use of GU gradually in 68 upazilas under 11 districts in Mymensingh and Barisal region, resulted in a reduction of usage by 16,585 tonnes this Boro season." DAE officials said, GU had been proved to be cost-effective and production booster according to this year's field reports, but at the same time some problems had been found with the present applicators.