RANGPUR, July 02, 2018 (BSS) – Experts at a summit workshop here have laid
emphasis on adoption of zero tillage (ZT) in the rice-wheat farming systems
to increase food production substantially saving costs of labour, irrigation
and fuel.
They expressed the views at the workshop titled ZT Seeder Summit under
‘Value chain policy interventions to accelerate adoption of zero tillage in
the rice-wheat farming systems across the Indo-Gangetic Plains’ project held
at RDRS conference room on Monday, a press release said today.
Under the project, a field research study is being conducted to examine how
the adoption of ZT seed drills could be accelerated to reduce prevalence of
stubble-burning and boost sustainable food production amid water security in
the Eastern Gangetic Plains region of Bangladesh.
The University of Adelaide in Australia and RDRS Bangladesh jointly
organised the event with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural
Research (ACIAR)-funding to re-orientate future state and national policies
for faster adoption of ZT seed drills.
With Project Leader and Senior Lecturer of the University of Adelaide Dr.
Adam Loch in the chair, Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority
Dr. Md. Akram Hossain Chowdhury attended the workshop as chief guest.
Professor of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University Dr.
Md. Kamal Uddin Sarker, Professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University
Mashiur Rahman, Additional Directors of Department of Agriculture Extension
Md. Shah Alam and Md. Abdul Wazed and its Deputy Project Director Md.
Shafiqul Islam Sheikh, Project Manager of International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Center Md. Ashraf Ali spoke as special guests.
Twenty-five participants, including agricultural policymakers, scientists,
extension workers, machinery importers and manufacturers, machine operators,
farmers associated with the Happy Seeder (HS) and ZT Seed drill value chains
attended the workshop.
Director (Field Operations) of RDRS Humayun Khaled delivered welcome
speech while Project Coordinator and Adjunct Senior Fellow of the University
of Adelaide Dr. Jay Cummins narrated workshop objectives.
Dr. Jay discussed key recommendations merging out of field studies related
to constraints of the HS/ZT seed drills and suggested the policymakers to
adopt the best HS/ZT seed drill value chains in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Dr. Adam Loch delivered the keynote presentation in the workshop
coordinated by Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS
Bangladesh Agriculturist Md Mamunur Rashid.
The chief guest stressed on taking time-befitting steps to accelerate
adoption of ZT Seed drills in northern Bangladesh to further enhance food
production at reduced costs making agriculture more profitable and
sustainable.
BSS/MI/MR/ 1253 hrs