RANGPUR, Feb 22, 2019 (BSS) – The land on the Kartoa Valley ecological
zone comprising of five sub-Himalayan northern districts is more fertile for
tea cultivation than the Surma Valley ecological zone comprising of three
districts in greater Sylhet.
“So why, farmers can earn higher profits by cultivating tea on the land in
Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts in the
Kartoa Valley in shorter period,” said Member of Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB)
Md. Golam Mowla.
Mowla said this while addressing a post-rally workshop arranged by BTB at
Domar upazila auditorium in Nilphamari district to expand small-scale tea
farming in the upazila on Wednesday afternoon, a press release said today.
Fifty new tea growers of the upazila participated in the event arranged
under ‘Expansion of Small Holding Tea Cultivation in Northern Bangladesh
Project’ being implemented since 2015 to expand tea farming on 500 hectares
of land within 2020 in the valley.
Earlier, a rally with participation of tea farmers, officials of BTB and
Department of Agriculture Extension, public representatives and religious
leaders was brought out on the roads to inspire local people in tea
cultivation.
With Domar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ummey Fatima in the chair, Director
(In-charge) of the Project Development Unit of BTB at Srimangal Dr. AKM
Rafiqul Haque attended the workshop as special guest.
Senior Scientific Officer of BTB at Panchagarh and Project Director of the
‘Expansion of Small Holding Tea Cultivation in Northern Bangladesh Project’
Dr Mohammad Shameem Al Mamun delivered keynote presentation in the workshop.
Domar Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Jafar Iqbal and Officer-in-Charge
(Investigation) of Domar Thana Biswadeb Roy also spoke.
The experts inspired local farmers in expanding small-scale tea
cultivation in the upazila to earn more profits for improving their economic
conditions and standard of living in shorter period of time.
Dr. Rafiqul Haque discussed profitable side of tea farming and various
aspects of tea farming on the Kartoa Valley having brighter prospect for its
expanding cultivation to improve agro-economy in the region.
Dr Mamun provided training to the farmers on preparing and transplantation
of quality tea saplings, nursing of planted saplings, management of shadow,
fertilisers, pesticides, diseases, weeds and tea nurseries, pruning of tea
plants, plucking of tea-leaves.
The chief guest expressed firm confidence that the workshop would help
usher in a new horizon of expanding tea cultivation in Domar upazila to
rapidly improve socio-economic conditions of local people.