Potato farming can mitigate water-stress condition, say experts

RAJSHAHI: Promotion of potato farming along with different other less-irrigation consuming crops could be the effective means of lessening the existing water-stress condition in Barind area, said agricultural scientists and researchers here on Sunday, reports BSS.
They viewed importance should be given on encouraging and motivating the farmers towards bringing their lands under the less-water consuming crops like potato, pulses, mustard, wheat, maize and tomato. The observations came in a field-day and farmers meeting titled “Projection of Water-saving Technologies in Farmers level Crop Production in Barind area” held at Devipur area under Tanore Upazila of the district. More than 150 farmers joined the meeting.
Irrigation and Water Management Division (IWMD) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) organized the programme in association with SDC-DASCOH.
Director General of BARI Dr Abul Kalam Azad and Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) addressed the meeting as chief and guest of honour respectively with With Dr Abdur Razzaque Akanda, Chief Scientific Officer of IWMD, in the chair.
Director of Wheat Research Centre Dr Naresh Chandra Dev Barman, BARI Principal Scientific Officers Dr Sujit Kumar Bishwas and Dr Anwar Hossain and Senior Scientific Officer of Dr Shakhawat Hossain and Coordinator of Integrated Water Resource Management Project Jahangir Alam Khan also spoke.
Dr Abul Kalam Azad said: “Food and agriculture authorities should focus on these particular crops. Besides growing newer varieties of crops, it has much to do with getting habituated on consuming them too”.
He said, given the fast depletion of ground water table - there is no alternative other than to encourage the farmers for promoting various cereal crops and vegetables instead of only Irri-Boro paddy on our vast expanses of dried land in the North and West of the country. BMDA Cahairman Dr Akram Chowdhury urged all concerned authorities and farmers to come forward and work together. Farmers in the Barind area need appropriate training, knowledge and motivation on how to cultivate less-irrigated crops coupled with quality seeds.

 

Potato farming can mitigate water-stress condition, say experts

RAJSHAHI: Promotion of potato farming along with different other less-irrigation consuming crops could be the effective means of lessening the existing water-stress condition in Barind area, said agricultural scientists and researchers here on Sunday, reports BSS. They viewed importance should be given on encouraging and motivating the farmers towards bringing their lands under the less-water consuming crops like potato, pulses, mustard, wheat, maize and tomato. The observations came in a field-day and farmers meeting titled Projection of Water-saving Technologies in Farmers level Crop Production in Barind area held at Devipur area under Tanore Upazila of the district. More than 150 farmers joined the meeting. Irrigation and Water Management Division (IWMD) of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) organized the programme in association with SDC-DASCOH. Director General of BARI Dr Abul Kalam Azad and Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) addressed the meeting as chief and guest of honour respectively with With Dr Abdur Razzaque Akanda, Chief Scientific Officer of IWMD, in the chair. Director of Wheat Research Centre Dr Naresh Chandra Dev Barman, BARI Principal Scientific Officers Dr Sujit Kumar Bishwas and Dr Anwar Hossain and Senior Scientific Officer of Dr Shakhawat Hossain and Coordinator of Integrated Water Resource Management Project Jahangir Alam Khan also spoke. Dr Abul Kalam Azad said: Food and agriculture authorities should focus on these particular crops. Besides growing newer varieties of crops, it has much to do with getting habituated on consuming them too. He said, given the fast depletion of ground water table - there is no alternative other than to encourage the farmers for promoting various cereal crops and vegetables instead of only Irri-Boro paddy on our vast expanses of dried land in the North and West of the country. BMDA Cahairman Dr Akram Chowdhury urged all concerned authorities and farmers to come forward and work together. Farmers in the Barind area need appropriate training, knowledge and motivation on how to cultivate less-irrigated crops coupled with quality seeds.