RAJSHAHI, Nov 14, 2019 (BSS) – Agriculture extension officials urged
their field level subordinates to put in their best efforts to supplement the
government efforts of reducing the import of citrus fruits through boosting
internal production.
They said all the entities concerned should come forward and work
together to boost the fruit production after the best uses of modern
technologies and existing natural resources to make the country self-reliant
in this field.
The officials made the call while addressing a daylong regional workshop
styled “Extension, Management and Yield Enhancement of Citrus Fruits” at BGB
Party Point in the city yesterday.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and On Farm Wing jointly
organized the workshop in association with the project of Extension,
Management and Yield Enhancement of Citrus Fruits.
Director of the on farm wing Chandi Das Kundu addressed the meeting as
chief guest while DAE Additional Director AKM Shahriar and Director of the
project Faruque Ahmed spoke as special guests with DAE Additional Director
Deb Dulal Dhali in the chair.
DAE Deputy Directors Shamsul Haque and Monzurul Huda, Deputy Director of
Horticulture Centre Abdul Awal and Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit
Research Centre Dr Abdul Alim also spoke.
The workshop was told that Taka 126.43-crore project is being
implemented in 123 upazilas of 30 districts with the main thrust of uplifting
the production of citrus fruits to around 10 to 15 percent by 2023.
Chandi Das Kundu said the greater Rajshahi and Bogura districts and the
adjacent areas have been regarded as the country’s most prospective fruit
producing region. Production of fruit is one of the major income-generating
activities in the region.
He added that the people are becoming increasingly interested in
horticulture and planting various fruit saplings around their homesteads or
nearby open spaces.
Fruit farming becomes most profitable than other crops in recent years
bringing fortunes to thousands of farmers and commoners in the region during
the past few years.
This trend has created a huge demand for saplings of fruit bearing and
other trees in the area, he added.
In terms of food and nutritive values green and ripe fruits are vital as
these are enriched with enormous vitamin A, B, C, calcium and iron which are
essential for human body irrespective of age and sex. So, boosted up fruit
farming is very important and helpful for the society as a whole.
Agriculturist Chandi Das urged the attending extension officials,
scientists and researchers to encourage and motivate the farmers towards
producing safe fruit through adopting the bio and organic fertilization and
pest management method for the greater interests of protecting the public
health from any sorts of hazards.
More than 100 DAE officials and agriculture related scientists and
researchers from both government and non-government entities concerned joined
the workshop sharing views on the issue.