The drought-tolerant paddy

The government has done a lot for development of the agriculture sector but much more should be done for the welfare of farmers

Agriculture experts at a ‘farmers’ field day’ in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur stressed on expanded cultivation of short duration and drought tolerant ‘BINA dhan17’ rice variety to increase output and enhance crop intensity for ensuring food security. According to a report in this newspaper yesterday, BINA has been expanding cultivation of BINA dhan17 paddy to popularise newer cropping pattern for assisting farmers in getting three to four crops from the same land annually under financial assistance of the Climate Change Trust Fund. Average life span of the high yielding variety BINA dhan17 rice is 120 days till harvest, its cultivation requires 30 per cent less irrigation and fertilizers, paving way for farming of early winter crops bringing more profits to farmers. 
Bangladesh is vulnerable to natural calamities like floods and droughts.  Floods cause extensive damage to crops in different parts of the country almost every year. Many affluent farmers are pauperized due to these calamities. Besides, drought is also no less responsible for damage to various crops. With the rapid population growth in the country the demand for food is also increasing. If rice production in the country does not match the demand a crisis situation may arise. Even eruption of food crisis or famine-like situation cannot be ruled out. The way arable land in the country is decreasing due to thriving of housing projects does not augur well. Moreover, fertility of land is declining due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers. All these are glaring threats to country’s food security.
 Taking all these factors into consideration the government will have to make all-out efforts to boost rice production in the country for feeding the burgeoning population. Construction of houses in arable lands as well as encroachment of lands by land shirks should be resisted. 
It is time to introduce modern cropping pattern to farmers. For achieving this goal there is no alternative to going for innovative ways for increasing food production, particularly rice. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) can play vital roles in this regard. Farmers will have to be brought under training programme to make them conscious about crop cultivation. The present government has done a lot for the development of the agriculture sector but much more should be done for the welfare of farmers. 

 

The drought-tolerant paddy

The government has done a lot for development of the agriculture sector but much more should be done for the welfare of farmers

Agriculture experts at a farmers field day in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur stressed on expanded cultivation of short duration and drought tolerant BINA dhan17 rice variety to increase output and enhance crop intensity for ensuring food security. According to a report in this newspaper yesterday, BINA has been expanding cultivation of BINA dhan17 paddy to popularise newer cropping pattern for assisting farmers in getting three to four crops from the same land annually under financial assistance of the Climate Change Trust Fund. Average life span of the high yielding variety BINA dhan17 rice is 120 days till harvest, its cultivation requires 30 per cent less irrigation and fertilizers, paving way for farming of early winter crops bringing more profits to farmers. Bangladesh is vulnerable to natural calamities like floods and droughts. Floods cause extensive damage to crops in different parts of the country almost every year. Many affluent farmers are pauperized due to these calamities. Besides, drought is also no less responsible for damage to various crops. With the rapid population growth in the country the demand for food is also increasing. If rice production in the country does not match the demand a crisis situation may arise. Even eruption of food crisis or famine-like situation cannot be ruled out. The way arable land in the country is decreasing due to thriving of housing projects does not augur well. Moreover, fertility of land is declining due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers. All these are glaring threats to countrys food security. Taking all these factors into consideration the government will have to make all-out efforts to boost rice production in the country for feeding the burgeoning population. Construction of houses in arable lands as well as encroachment of lands by land shirks should be resisted. It is time to introduce modern cropping pattern to farmers. For achieving this goal there is no alternative to going for innovative ways for increasing food production, particularly rice. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) can play vital roles in this regard. Farmers will have to be brought under training programme to make them conscious about crop cultivation. The present government has done a lot for the development of the agriculture sector but much more should be done for the welfare of farmers.