Raising of adequate fruit-bearing trees is very important for
ensuring nutritional demands plus ensuring food security, ecological
balance and biodiversity.
Speakers made this observation while addressing the inaugural session
of a five- day Fruit Tree Fair-2013 organized by the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) at its office compound here on Friday.
Highlighting various significances of the fruit and fruit trees in
terms of the present social and national aspects they put emphasis on
transforming the tree plantation campaign into a
social movement.
Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury, who addressed
the session as the chief guest, stressed for extensive tree plantation
to improve environment and biodiversity to make the region habitable
for all.
“Expansion of the country’s forest area up to 25 percent of the total
land through extensive tree plantations will protect the country from
possible alarming consequences of the ongoing climate changes,” he
added.
Explaining various beneficial aspects of trees and homestead gardening
to human life he urged all to plant at least three tree saplings
around their homesteads to help maintain environmental and ecological
balance.
He termed tree plantation as a big investment and said many people
have been changing their lot by establishing nurseries and creating
fruits garden at present.
On the occasion, DAE District Training Officer Saiful Islam presented
a keynote paper on “Contribution of Fruit and Fruit trees in Poverty
Reduction and Nutritional Security” emphasizing the need for providing
all possible assistances towards fruit farming for boosting its yield.
With Deputy Director of the DAE Nurul Amin in the chair, Paba UNO
Razzaqul Islam and Agriculturist Rezaul Karim also spoke on the
occasion.
The speakers urged all irrespective of age, sex, creed and cast to
plant fruit saplings around their respective homesteads or on any open
space to help maintain environmental and
ecological balance and save the region from the wrath of any
future natural catastrophe.
They said all concerned should put in their best effort to make the
region green by increasing fruit trees area.
Different government and non-government organisations and individuals
including nursery owners and local entrepreneurs have set up 25 stalls
in the fair premises displaying saplings of over 40 fruit-bearing
trees.
(BSS, Rajshahi)
