Disseminating their indigenous knowledge and expertise, some grassroots aged farmers unanimously mentioned that protection of plant diversity can be the vital means of boosting food security.
They viewed as many as 29 non-conventional plant varieties have both food and medicinal ingredients and values immensely. So, there should have adequate measures of protecting and conserving the varieties together with familiarizing those at consumers’ level.
The observation came in a community school titled “Importance of Plant
Diversity and Ecosystem” at Bilnepalpara village under Paba Upazila of the district on Saturday afternoon. More than 100 people including 50 youths joined the programme.
On the occasion, they also visited some farming plots of various non-conventional and indigenous crops.
Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), a non-
government research organization, hosted the programme in association with Bilnepalpara Farmers Club and Youth Organization.
National Environment Award winner Yousuf Ali Molla and BARCIK Barind
Regional Manager Shahidul Islam addressed the discussion as focal persons.Farmers Nurul Islam, Amrita Kumar Sarker and Sultana Khatun also spoke.
Yousuf Ali Molla voiced for time-befitting and effective measures for conservation of both plant diversity and biodiversity in the region including its vast Barind tract.
He mentioned that the diversities are gradually declining now due to
various natural and manmade catastrophes posing a serious threat to the whole ecosystem. So, there should be a campaign and state level interventions.
Farmer Mollah said the youths including school, college and university
level students need proper knowledge on the importance of plant and
biodiversity, natural resource conservation and climate change issues so that they can contribute to this field.
He said in the wake of abnormal declining of natural resources like native crop seeds, fish and birds species and other wildlife, conservation of natural resources has become indispensable for facing the adverse impacts of climate change.
He opined that many native crops and vegetable varieties are gradually
declining. Many of the native fish species, particularly the small indigenous ones are on the verge of extinction due to various reasons, reports BSS from Rajshahi.
