Sustainable land use to address Barind challenges stressed

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RAJSHAHI, Feb 17, 2018 (BSS) – Speakers at a participatory discussion here today said highest importance should be given on ensuring reasonable and sustainable use of land to address the existing challenges of Barind region.

They viewed that time has come to stimulate innovative possibilities with building a shared understanding to amplify the potentials and reduce the adversities in the dried areas, adding measures should be strengthened to conserve environment and huge crops production.

The observation came at the inaugural session of a two-day workshop titled “Barind Integrated Landscape Multi-stakeholder Platform (BIL-MSP)” in Rajshahi city.

Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) organized the workshop in its conference hall in association with Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and 2030 Water Resources Group.

Around 100 high-level representatives from regional public, private and civil society are joining the two-day workshop.

With BMDA Chairman Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury in the chair, BINA Director General Dr Biresh Kumar Goswami, RDA Director General Dr Abdul Matin and Director General of Bangladesh Crops Research Institute Dr Amzad Hossain shared their expertise on the issue.

Director (Collaborative Management) of Eco-agriculture Partners Dr. Louise Buck, Sayef Tanzeem Qayyum from IFC and Bastiaan Mohrmann from 2030 Water Resources Group attended the function.

Dr Chowdhury said farmers in the Barind area need time-fitting trainings and motivation to cultivate more less-irrigated crops to lessen the existing pressure on groundwater.

He viewed there is no alternative to encourage the farmers to promote various cereal crops and vegetables instead of only Irri-Boro paddy on the dried land to face the water stress condition as its groundwater level has gradually been declining.