RANGPUR, Oct 1, 2021 (BSS) - Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque has said the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to improve the living standard of farmers.
"Now advanced technology has been added to agriculture. Farmers are producing maximum crop using quality seeds. Steps have been taken to attaining a sustainable agricultural," he said, adding that 'monga' (a seasonal extreme poverty-like situation) has been eradicated permanently from the northern region.
Dr Razzaque was speaking at a video conference virtually a Farmers' Field Day arranged on the occasion of cutting short duration Aman rice crop at Bhimpur village in Alampur union of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur on Friday afternoon as the chief guest.
The Agriculture Minister said that the short duration BINA-16 and BINA-17 varieties of rice evolved by Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) can be harvested within 100 days from transplantation of seedlings on the crop fields.
"The yield rates of these rice varieties are excellent. Cultivation of these short duration rice varieties enhances crop intensity as mustard and potato followed by Aush rice could be cultivated on the same land after harvesting these rice varieties," he said.
He remarked that expanded cultivation of these short duration rice varieties would cause a revolution among farmers through changing their fortune and improving the quality of life.
Director General of BINA Dr Mirja Mofazzal Islam presided over the function, participated by officials and experts of BINA, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), local administrations, local farmers and elite.
Senior Secretary of the ministry Md Mesbahul Islam, Additional Secretary Kamalaranjan Das, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md Asadullah, Deputy Commissioner Md Asib Ahsan, Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Bidhu Bhusan Ray, Taraganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Aminul Islam and Upazila Awami League President Atiar Rahman spoke on the occasion.
