RAJSHAHI, Dec 12, 2023 (BSS) - Farmers' level crop production can easily be enhanced by 15-20 percent on an average if quality seed is provided.

The field level agricultural officials and other staff concerned should act to enhance farmers’ competence for producing quality seeds of the high valued crops.

Agriculture officials, scientists and researchers came up with the remark while addressing a regional workshop on quality seed production of rice, wheat and jute here today.
 
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) organized the workshop at its conference hall supported by the Farmer Level Quality Rice, Wheat and Jute Seed Production, Preservation and Distribution through Modern Technology Project.

More than 80 district and upazila level agricultural officials, researchers and farmers from four districts in the region attended the workshop.

DAE Additional Director Shamsul Wadud and Regional Seed Certification Officer Dr Sheikh Ruhul Amin addressed the workshop as chief and special guests respectively, while Deputy Director Dr Motaleb Hossain was in the chair.

During his keynote presentation, Project Director Muhammad Ali Zinnah gave an illustration on the project along with its aims, objectives, implementation strategy and so far achievements.

He underlined the need for an integrated effort to boost the seed production of paddy, wheat and jute at farmers’ level to meet increasing domestic demands.

Besides, he urged the field level officials to put in their best effort to enhance the seed production through the best uses of the existing natural resources.
 
Emphasis should be given to make farmers habituated to modern cultivation methods along with using quality seed through establishing projection plots of improved technologies for enhancing food grain output, he added.

DAE Deputy Director Mozder Hossain and Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute Dr Ilias Hossain also spoke.

In his remarks, Additional Director Shamsul Wadud said the agricultural extension and research officials have a vital role in accelerating the country's agro-production including the paddy, wheat and jute and urged them to reach the innovated technologies and modern know-how at the doorstep of the farmers.

Considering the agricultural environment and socio-economic condition of the region, he said the rice-wheat-jute crop-diversification method should be promoted to the grassroots as it has been adjudged as profit making, cost-effective and time-saving.
 
He also said importance should be given on formation of farmers groups in the block system instead of individual initiative. So, the existing prospects in the agriculture sector could be made realistic.