The farmers are expecting a bumper production of mustard seeds in the northern region during this 2013-2014 Rabi season as harvest of the oily crop continues with excellent yield rates, official sources said on Sunday.
Harvest of the crop has already been completed in the char lands on the river basins where the farmers have already transplanted Boro seedlings and the same continues in the main land areas.With the arrival of the newly harvested mustard in the local markets, its prices fell down to Tk 1,500 per maund (40 kg) on an average against the price of Tk 2,000 per maund a month ago in the region, market sources said.The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) had fixed a target of producing 3,02,824 tonnes of the oilseeds through bringing 2,52,353 hectares land under its cultivation this season in the region.However, the framer have finally cultivated the crop in 2,49,178 hectares land, some 3,175 hectares less than the fixed farming target.Harvesting of the mustard seeds began from the middle of January last and is expected to complete by the middle on the next month, the sources said adding that the yield rate achieved so far is excellent and over 1.20 tonne mustard seed per hectare.Though the concerned agri-departments, different NGOs and banks took adequate steps and distributed quality seeds and agriculture loans among the farmers, the farming target of mustard fell little short due to crop diversification and many other reasons.Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khandker M Mesbahul Islam told that adequate training, technical assistance, quality and high yielding variety mustard seeds, latest technologies and agri-loans were provided to the farmers this time.
Despite little shortfall in farming target, the farmers are expecting bumper production of the crop as they have mostly cultivated the high yielding variety mustard evolved by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) to get excellent yield rates, he said.Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the farmers have been showing more interests in farming mustard after getting repeated bumper production and excellent price in recent years. feature,famine Antenatal healthcare services for safe pregnancy, motherhood underscored Speakers at a function here on Saturday underscored the need for antenatal healthcare services for safe pregnancy and motherhood to build a healthier nation through reducing maternal, neonatal and infant deaths.”To this end, they emphasized on creating much awareness among the pregnant mothers along with their near and dear ones so that they could avail the necessary and essential healthcare services from all”, they said.They made the comments while addressing a briefing meeting on safe motherhood, antenatal and postnatal care, newborns care and nutrition organized by at the auditorium of District Council here at noon.Information, Education and Motivation unit of Director General of Family Planning (DGFP) organized the function for the journalists of print and electronic media working in the district.Deputy Commissioner (DC) M. Ehsan-E-Elahi addressed the function as the chief guest and deputy director of family planning department Dr. Ferdous Hossain Manju was present as the special guest.The key not paper on the subject was presented by deputy programme manager of DHFP Golam Faruque while sadar upazila family planning officer Mahabuba Khatun conducted the function.Referring to various grim pictures relating to the unsafe delivery particularly in rural and slum areas, Golam Faruque observed that many
children became mentally and physically crippled due to lack of necessary facilities.Similarly, in some cases, the infant or the mother or both of them die due to complexities that arose during the pre and post natal period, he also said.Delivery by women has to be conducted by skilled birth attendants to avoid the risk of both child and maternal mortality; he said adding that the rate of maternal mortality had dropped to 198 from 322.DD Dr. Ferdous Hossain Manju said children may suffer malnutrition, if pregnant mothers are not given nutritious diets and proper healthcare facilities from the family members.Malnutrition children became stunting; he said adding that death risk of undernourished children is four times higher than normal children.
DC M. Ehsan-E-Elahi urged the media men to publish positive reports in their respective media to create much awareness about medicare services for the pregnant mothers to save their lives and give birth to healthy babies during the delivery period.The DC also sought cooperation from all the journalists to help achieve the millennium development goals within the specific period through reducing the child and mother mortality rate significantly.A total of 40 journalists of print and electronic media including national news agency participated in the briefing meeting. -BSS, Gaibandha
