RAJSHAHI, Jan 11, 2019 (BSS) – Experts at a workshop today stressed the
need for protecting water resources and soil quality to produce more crops
aiming to ensure the country’s food security.
They said the government and non-government organisations should work
together to protect water resources and environment from pollution.
Regional Office of Caritas Bangladesh organised the daylong workshop
titled, ‘Effective and Meaningful Research on Protecting Water Resources and
Soil Health’ at its conference hall here.
Chaired by Caritas Regional Director Sucles Jeorge Kosta, the workshop was
addressed, among others, by Country Director of Caritas Switzerland Amrita
Rojario, Senior Manager Agastin Baori, Project Manager Iftekhar Hossain and
Regional Coordinator Zillur Rahman.
Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman, a teacher of the Department of Geography and
Environmental Sciences at Rajshahi University, and Bashar Mollah, Research
and Advocacy Officer of Caritas, presented separate keynote papers at the
workshop.
Prof Dr Rahman said the soil productivity is declining in the country day
by day due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in
agriculture.
The use of organic fertiliser could help protect soil health, he said.
“At least 2.5 percent organic ingredient is required in a normal soil,
whereas the content in the area was found less than 1.3 percent and even less
than one percent in some soils,” he said.
Bashar Mollah stressed creating mass awareness for protecting water
resources from pollution and chemical contamination to save human
civilisation and biodiversity.
Noting that water resources in vast Barind tract need to be conserved, he
said climate change is also a threat to natural resources and the humanity as
well, urging the policymakers to take effective measures to cope with the
adverse impacts of climate change.