Project taken up for quality seed
BSS
RAJSHAHI: Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) is going to implement a project to boost quality seed production to meet up its gradually rising demands for more agricultural outputs in the region, reports BSS. Quality seed is the precondition to improve crop yield and taking the issue into active consideration the step has been taken to feed the countrys increasing population, said the officials concerned. The five-year project titled Quality Seed Production, Distribution and Farmers Training has been designed to be implemented in 25 Upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabgonj districts with an estimated cost of around Taka 9.86 crore. Main thrust of the intervention is to increase production and distribution of quality seed in the project area. Motivating the farmers through establishing demonstration plot for producing improved seed of both local and high yielding varieties of paddy, wheat, pulse and oil seed crops is the allied objective of the scheme.
It has provision of giving necessary training to the farmers and other staffs concerned so that they are encouraged to bring their lands under quality seed and other less-water consuming crops cultivation effectively. ATM Rafiqul Islam, deputy manager (Agriculture) of BMDA and project director, told BSS that target has been set to produce 3,000 tonnes of seed of paddy and some less-water consuming crops like wheat, pulse and oil-seed through the contract-growers. Sharing his previous working experience he said the BMDAs seed production activities have attained a significant success in terms of supplying quality paddy and some cereal crops seed to farmers. The seed is very popular in the region. The project will facilitate technical advice and updated know-how including costs of requisite materials like seed, fertilizer and pesticide to the growers for production and preservation of seed.
