Anisul for boosting agro-forestry for more outputs

746

RAJSHAHI, July 25, 2018 (BSS) – Minister for Environment, Forest and
Climate Change Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, MP, said successful promotion
of agro-forestry can be the effective means of boosting production of both
farm outputs and forestry resources.

The minister was addressing a seminar at conference hall of Barind
Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) in Rajshahi city today as the chief
guest.

BMDA organised the seminar styled “Community Forestry in Barind Tract:
Role of BMDA Focusing on Ultra High Density Mango Plantation for Improvement
of Nutrition of Ultra Poor in Barind Tract”.

Barind Integrated Landscape Transformation Multi Stakeholder Platform
supported the programme. Chaired by BMDA Chairman Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury,
the seminar was addressed, among others, by Director of Department of
Environment Md Ashrafuzzaman, Conservator of Forest Abdul Awal Sarker,
Director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development Dr.
Saleemul Huq, BMDA Executive Director Abdur Rashid and Senior Advisor of
Asian Development Bank Dr. Assaduzzaman.

Executive Engineer of BMDA Engineer Abdul Latif, Bangladesh Coordinator
of 2030 Water Resource Group Sayef Tanzeem Qayyum and Zahirul Islam from
Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture presented three separate
keynote papers on different dimensions of the issue.

Minister Barrister Mahmud said, “Agro-forestry will be useful in
addressing the needs of fuel, fodder, green leaf manure and medicinal
plants.”

“Family farming, promoting homestead agro-forestry models will be the
best step forward….This combination of environmental services and
agricultural production makes agro-forestry an exciting opportunity both to
feed the region and save the planet,” he added.

Barrister Mahmud opined that optimum agro-forestry could be effective
means of reducing carbon emission at a substantial level and that is very
important to face the adverse impact of climare change. Time has come to make
the farmers habituated towards agro-forestry.

Presenting his paper Engineer Abdul Latif said mango intercropping with
various cereal crops especially paddy has started contributing a lot towards
boosting mango yield in the region.

More than 120 scientists and researchers representing various
agricultural institutions and other entities concerned joined the seminar.