Agri experts in a function here on Wednesday urged the farmers to farm Boro seedlings in dry seedbed with covered polythene to get more yield adapting to changed climatic condition.
“Dry seed bed technology introduced by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has proved useful to the farmers of the district in saving their seedlings against severe cold, dense fog and cold injuries as well”, they said.They made the observations while addressing a briefing meeting with
the farmers organised by Sundarganj upazila agriculture office on the premises of Climate Field School at West Rajibpur of the upazila.The function was held under Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme, phase-2 of Disaster and Climate Risk Management in Agriculture project funded by UK Aid, European Union, Norw egianEmbassy, Sweden, Australian AID and UNDP while the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management was implementing the programme as implementing agency.Upazila agriculture officer Satyen Sen addressed the function as the chief guest and upazila agriculture extension officer Rustam Ali was present as the special guest while UP chairman ATM Mahbubur Rahman presided over the ceremony.The function was also addressed, among others, by programme officer of the project Shah M. Asauddowla, sub assistant agriculture officer Shamsul Haque, farmers’ leader Sadequl Islam Dulal and farmer Hafizur Rahman.Upazila agriculture officer Satyen Sen in his speech said the country has been experiencing huge climate change causing a grave concern to agriculture, food, soil and bio-diversity.As the agri production was being hampered due to negative impacts of climate change, he called upon all to farm Boro seedlings in dry seed bed using this technology and other strategies for keeping crop production increasing to ensure food security amid adapting to changed climate.Farmer Hafizur Rahman said they saved both time and money by cultivating seedlings through the newly introduced dry seed-bed method and seedlings growth period was also shorter in this technology, compared to the traditional wet seed-bed one.Cultivating Boro seedlings by traditional method took 45 to 60 days while it needed only 25-30 days for growing seedlings using the new method; he said adding that the germination of the seed was very satisfactory and the seedlings were greener and healthier compared to
wet seed-bed ones.Programme officer of the project Shah M. Asauddowla said a total of 15 demonstration plots were set up in Sadar and Sundarganj upazilas during the current season to motivate the farmers for farming Boro seedlings in dry seed- bed method.The farmers were also provided need base training and other agri inputs and technological supports to make the Boro seedlings farming on the dry seed bed grand success, he also said. -BSS, Gaibandha
