‘Mechanisation can mitigate Barind agriculture challenges’

Scientists and researchers unanimously mentioned that large-scale adoption of farm mechanization can be the effective means of facing the existing agriculture related challenges in the drought-prone Barind area. They identically observed that the region’s agriculture is facing many challenges including climate change, labour shortage, irrigation water scarcity and increase in crop cultivation cost. So, promotion of farm mechanization has become indispensable to address the multiple problems.

They made this observation while addressing a farmers’ field day titled ‘Projection of Water-saving Laser Land Leveler Technology in Barind area’ at Pirijpur under Godagari upazila in the district on Tuesday.

Integrated Water Resources Management Project and Pirijpur Water Resources Management Committee jointly organized the meeting largely attended by farmers both males and females.

Various organizations like Dascoh Foundation, CYMMIT, WARPO and SDC supported the programme.

The meeting was told that the cropping intensity can be increased to 250 percent even 400 percent from the existing 200 percent through reducing the existing time gap between the two crops after the best uses of the farm mechanization.

Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury addressed the meeting as chief guest while former pro-vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, additional director of Department of Agriculture Extension SM Mustafizur Rahman and its Deputy Director Shamsul Haque spoke as special guests with panel chairman of Matikata Union Parishad Rafiqul Islam in the chair.

CYMMIT Systems Agronomist Dr Mahesh Kumar Gathala, principal scientific officer of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute Dr Ilias Hossain, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Dr Shakhawat Hossain and DASCOH Chief Executive Officer Akramul Haque also spoke.

Senior scientific officer of Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division of BARI Dr Arshadul Hoque portrayed salient features of laser land Leveler machine before the participants.

Dr Hoque urged the farmers to use the machine as it is built on water-saving technology for it using scarce groundwater optimally by ensuring even coverage.

He added that the technology saves electricity about 755 kWh per hectare per year for rice-wheat systems. It’s cost effective.

 

Mechanisation can mitigate Barind agriculture challenges

Scientists and researchers unanimously mentioned that large-scale adoption of farm mechanization can be the effective means of facing the existing agriculture related challenges in the drought-prone Barind area. They identically observed that the regions agriculture is facing many challenges including climate change, labour shortage, irrigation water scarcity and increase in crop cultivation cost. So, promotion of farm mechanization has become indispensable to address the multiple problems. They made this observation while addressing a farmers field day titled Projection of Water-saving Laser Land Leveler Technology in Barind area at Pirijpur under Godagari upazila in the district on Tuesday. Integrated Water Resources Management Project and Pirijpur Water Resources Management Committee jointly organized the meeting largely attended by farmers both males and females. Various organizations like Dascoh Foundation, CYMMIT, WARPO and SDC supported the programme. The meeting was told that the cropping intensity can be increased to 250 percent even 400 percent from the existing 200 percent through reducing the existing time gap between the two crops after the best uses of the farm mechanization. Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury addressed the meeting as chief guest while former pro-vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, additional director of Department of Agriculture Extension SM Mustafizur Rahman and its Deputy Director Shamsul Haque spoke as special guests with panel chairman of Matikata Union Parishad Rafiqul Islam in the chair. CYMMIT Systems Agronomist Dr Mahesh Kumar Gathala, principal scientific officer of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute Dr Ilias Hossain, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Dr Shakhawat Hossain and DASCOH Chief Executive Officer Akramul Haque also spoke. Senior scientific officer of Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division of BARI Dr Arshadul Hoque portrayed salient features of laser land Leveler machine before the participants. Dr Hoque urged the farmers to use the machine as it is built on water-saving technology for it using scarce groundwater optimally by ensuring even coverage. He added that the technology saves electricity about 755 kWh per hectare per year for rice-wheat systems. Its cost effective.