RAJSHAHI, Sept 11, 2021 (BSS) - Agricultural scientists and researchers

have urged the farmers to cultivate Batabi Lebu-3 variety more to meet its
gradual demands and nutritional value.

  They also urged the field level agricultural extension officials, staff and
others concerned to make the variety popular among the grassroots farmers so
they can derive total benefits of the newly innovated variety.

  They made the call while addressing a farmers' field day meeting on
productivity of Batabilebu-3 held at the research ground of Fruit Research
Station (FRS) in Rajshahi yesterday.

  Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) organized the programme
with financial assistance of the project for strengthening research on
horticulture crops and transfer of technology of field crops to Char areas.

  Additional Secretary (Research) of the Ministry of Agriculture Komolaranjan
Das addressed the meeting as the chief guest.

  Joint Secretary Saiful Islam, Director of Sugar Crop Research Institute Dr
Samajit Kumar Pal and Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural
Extension (DAE) Sirajul Islam spoke as special guests.

  FRS Principal Scientific Officer Dr Alim Uddin chaired the meeting.

  Dr Alim Uddin told the meeting that high yielding, medium plant, deep green
leaf with heart shaped wings, medium sized, juice sac rosy, soft, bitter-
less, sweet, very juicy and very easy peeling are the main characteristics of
the variety.

  He also said the high yielding BARI Batabilebu-3 variety has already gained
popularity everywhere in the region for the last couple of years due to its
productivity and profitability.

  Dr Alim said the fruit is enriched with sweetness and vitamin-C and plays
an important role in improving the rural economy due to its economic value.

  He said the Rajshahi and its 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.

  Komolaranjan Das urged the attending farmers to produce 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.

  He urged them to cultivate the fruit varieties developed by BARI as those
are favourite to the consumers in general and economically viable.

  Later, the guests and scientists visited the batabi lebu orchard in the
centre compound and witnessed the farming and production process.