Mechanization can mitigate Barind agriculture challenges: experts

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RAJSHAHI, Jan 30, 2019 (BSS)-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.