BSS, Rangpur
Experts at a workshop have urged the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials to reach tea-related services and technologies to farmers for expanding cultivation and production of quality tea, reports BSS.
They made the call at a on-field practical training workshop titled "Tea cultivation management in scientific method" held at the regional office of Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) in Panchagarh district town on Wednesday afternoon, a press release said in Rangpur on Thursday. The event was arranged to expand small-scale tea cultivation under the ‘Expansion of Small Holding Tea Cultivation in Northern Bangladesh Project’ by reaching the latest scientific methods, technologies and tea related services to the farmers’ doorsteps.
Sixty field level officials of the DAE participated in the workshop arranged by the BTB under the banner of "Camellia Open Sky School" with the slogan of “Improved knowledge, Improved tea”.
With Project Director of Northern Bangladesh Project of the BTB Agriculturalist Dr. Mohammad Shameem Al Mamun in the chair, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Panchagarh Md Azad Jahan attended the event as the chief guest.Panchagarh Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer of the DAE Agriculturist Md Shah Alam addressed the workshop directing the field level sub-assistant agriculture officers of the DAE for reaching tea-related services to the farmers to expand tea cultivation.
Tea Development Officer at BTB’s Panchagarh Regional Office Agriculturalist Md. Amir Hossain and its Assistant Farm Superintendent Mohammad Sayedul Haque delivered speeches as resources persons in the training workshop.
The resource persons discussed the selection methods of tea varieties, planting of saplings, plucking, tipping, pruning and application of fertilizers, control of pests and diseases and latest technologies on tea farming on the plain lands. Dr Mamun stressed on adopting scientific methods, agronomic management and latest technologies in tea cultivation on plain lands to further boost production of high quality tea.
“The field level DAE officials can play a crucial role in expanding tea farming on the highly fertile plain lands of five northern districts-- Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat-- for tea cultivation,” he added.
The chief guest called upon the participating DAE officials to play their own roles in reaching tea-related services to farmers for expanding tea cultivation on the plain lands to produce quality tea for faster economic development of the region.