Vigorous measures for boosting production of oilseed and pulse have been taken as the demands of the crops have been gradually increasing in the region for the last couple of years.
"We are putting in the best efforts to meet up the local demand enhancing local production," said Mozdar Hossain, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), while addressing a seminar in Rajshahi city on Thursday.
He said each the local fertilizer dealer is requested to deliver quality and high yielding mustard seeds among 20 farmers in their respective areas for the upcoming winter season with their own initiatives.
Regional Office of Agriculture Information Services (AIS) organized the seminar titled "Boosting Production of Rabi Crops, including Oilseed and Pulses, without intervention of Paddy Yield in Rajshahi region" at its conference hall.
DAE Additional Director Shamsul Wadud, Regional Seed Certification Officer Shamim Ashraf, DAE Deputy Directors Dr Abdul Motaleb, Abdul Wadud and Polash Sarker, Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station Dr Shafiqul Islam and AIS Regional Officer Dr Abdullah-Hil-Kafi also addressed the seminar disseminating their expertise on the issue.
Dr Sayeedur Rahman, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, gave an illustration on the enormous aspects of boosting oilseed and pulse production in the region during his keynote presentation.
In his remarks, Shamsul Wadud said the farmer-level crop production can easily be enhanced to 15 to 20 percent on an average if they can use quality seed on their farming fields.
The field level agricultural officials and other staff concerned should take the responsibility of making the farmers competent for enhancing production of oilseed and pulses to meet mounting demands of those in the region. He told the meeting that there are enormous prospects of boosting pulse and oilseed production in the region including its vast Barind tract and there is a need for concerted efforts to materialize the potentialities.
