Sidr-hit people try to recover under US-funded project
Monday, 27 April 2009
The Sidr-affected people in the southern coastal districts are trying to turn around, recovering the losses of 2007 catastrophic cyclone by increasing food production under a US-funded $80 million reconstruction programme, reports BSS.
Besides poverty alleviation and improvement of food security through increased production, the rehabilitation efforts also include construction of cyclone shelters-cum primary schools and enhancing health and sanitation facilities.
Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury formally launched the project's first component entitled: "Improved Livelihood for Sidr-affected Rice Farmers (ILSAFARM)" in Barisal Saturday.
US Ambassador James F Moriarty attended the launching ceremony as the special guest at jam-packed Barisal Club.
The two-year ILSAFARM involving $4.77 million is expected to produce 74,000 tonnes of additional rice in the project area, increase each farmer's income per crop season by $80 and save 13,000 tonnes of fertiliser.
This will be achieved through increasing rice yields by improving applied nitrogen and balanced fertiliser use. Under the project, which actually started in December 2008, farmers - both male and female - have been trained on use of urea deep placement (UDP) technology, better known as 'Guti Urea', and balanced use of fertilisers.
This technology increases rice crop yields by as much as 25 per cent and reduces use of urea fertiliser by 30 per cent.
During a field trip after the inauguration of the ILSAFARM, the correspondent talked to a number of farmers at Mahilara village of Gournadi Upazila in Barisal district and found them quite optimistic about recovering the losses caused by cyclone Sidr and build a better future under the project.
"It would have been better, if the project started earlier," said Rabin Das (35), who received training under the project and cultivated rice on three acres of land. He said, in earlier seasons, he used 150 kilogrammes of urea on his land, but this season he used only 65 kilogrammes, and is expecting a better yield.
Elderly farmer M Ali Hossain (65), said he has learnt rational use of fertiliser from the training. All the lands do not need chemical fertilisers, he added.
Rekha Begum (40), said she has learnt how to control weeds and insects in a farmland. "All the insects are not harmful. Some are friendly insects and some are enemy insects, which I did not know earlier," she said.
Putul Rani Das (37), said she has made a vegetable garden at her homestead after getting training under the ILSAFARM project.
The farmers of Mahilara village, however, said they need adequate irrigation facilities to make best of the facilities under the project.
Besides poverty alleviation and improvement of food security through increased production, the rehabilitation efforts also include construction of cyclone shelters-cum primary schools and enhancing health and sanitation facilities.
Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury formally launched the project's first component entitled: "Improved Livelihood for Sidr-affected Rice Farmers (ILSAFARM)" in Barisal Saturday.
US Ambassador James F Moriarty attended the launching ceremony as the special guest at jam-packed Barisal Club.
The two-year ILSAFARM involving $4.77 million is expected to produce 74,000 tonnes of additional rice in the project area, increase each farmer's income per crop season by $80 and save 13,000 tonnes of fertiliser.
This will be achieved through increasing rice yields by improving applied nitrogen and balanced fertiliser use. Under the project, which actually started in December 2008, farmers - both male and female - have been trained on use of urea deep placement (UDP) technology, better known as 'Guti Urea', and balanced use of fertilisers.
This technology increases rice crop yields by as much as 25 per cent and reduces use of urea fertiliser by 30 per cent.
During a field trip after the inauguration of the ILSAFARM, the correspondent talked to a number of farmers at Mahilara village of Gournadi Upazila in Barisal district and found them quite optimistic about recovering the losses caused by cyclone Sidr and build a better future under the project.
"It would have been better, if the project started earlier," said Rabin Das (35), who received training under the project and cultivated rice on three acres of land. He said, in earlier seasons, he used 150 kilogrammes of urea on his land, but this season he used only 65 kilogrammes, and is expecting a better yield.
Elderly farmer M Ali Hossain (65), said he has learnt rational use of fertiliser from the training. All the lands do not need chemical fertilisers, he added.
Rekha Begum (40), said she has learnt how to control weeds and insects in a farmland. "All the insects are not harmful. Some are friendly insects and some are enemy insects, which I did not know earlier," she said.
Putul Rani Das (37), said she has made a vegetable garden at her homestead after getting training under the ILSAFARM project.
The farmers of Mahilara village, however, said they need adequate irrigation facilities to make best of the facilities under the project.