Popularisation of latest agri-technologies can increase crop production

RANGPUR, Sept 6 (BSS) :  Popularisation and expanded adoption of the latest agriculture technologies at the farmers' level can further increase production of all crops at reduced costs to ensure food security despite adverse impacts of climate change.
Adoption of conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies and mechanisation of agriculture would make farm activities more profitable for the farmers side by side saving environment, ecology, bio-diversity, soil health and fertility.
Renowned rice scientist and Associate Director- Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr MA Mazid said adoption of latest technologies will reduce crop durations, ensure better nutrient and fertiliser managements, drought escaping and cost- saving by reducing costs for labours, fuel and irrigation water.
He narrated as how the farmers are already being benefited through using the CA-based minimum tillage or zero tillage, direct seeded rice, bed- planting with two-wheel tractors in light texture soil at different areas to get better crop output amid changing climate.
He suggested for expanded farming of short duration, drought-, saline- and flood- tolerant rice using cropping patterns of rice-wheat-mugbean/jute, rice-potato/maize, rice-vegetables-wheat, rice-sugarcane with intercrops like garlic, onion/vegetables.
To facilitate the process, he stressed for quicker dissemination of the latest and proven CA-based agriculture technologies among farmers with increased subsidies for easier procurement of the necessary machineries, inputs, spares and other materials by them.
Executive Director of Rangpur-based North Bengal Institute of Development Studies Dr Syed Samsuzzaman, also an agriculturist, said adoption of the latest technologies will increase crop yields, facilitate crop intensification and remunerative markets for produce.
Horticulture specialist of the DAE Khandker M Mesbahul Islam said crop production cost is being reduced adopting the CA-based technologies including Alternate Wetting and Drying irrigation method through public-private and GO- NGO collaborations.
Quick delivery of the latest agri-technologies for system- based crop diversification would further help coping with adverse climate change impacts to increase crop output in attaining national food security and livelihoods for the people, he added.
Extension Agronomist Anarul Haque at Rangpur Hub of the USAID-funded Cereal Systems Initiatives for South Asia in Bangladesh (CSISA-BD) Project narrated crop rotation technology in which crops are planted in minimum, no-till or reduced tillage with some crop residue retention on soil surfaces to reduce unproductive losses of water.
He narrated successful introduction of short duration rice farming, cropping patterns like rice-wheat-mugbean/jute, rice- potato-relay/maize, rice- vegetables-wheat and rice- sugarcane with intercrops like garlic, onion/vegetables to get maximum yield at reduced costs.
The technologies have been increasing crop production saving water, facilitating crop intensification, quality seeds, quality planting machine prototypes and availability of the spares, quality inputs and remunerative markets for the produce, he said.
Consultant of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Bangladesh Dr Mg Neogi stressed for providing necessary training to farmers on pesticide, herbicide and fertiliser managements, proper usage of machineries and quicker delivery of latest technologies.
The experts said adoption of the latest agri-technologies have started making farm activities more profitable increasing crop production to ensure food security improving soil health, ecology and environment amid adverse climate change impacts.
Local service providers Moazzem Hossain and Rabindra Chandra Singh and farmers Echahaq Ali and Mahtab Uddin narrated benefits of adoption of the latest and proven CA-based technologies to increase production of all crops to ensure food security.