Farmers' 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 quality seeds of the high valued crops to meet mounting demands of those in the country.
Agricultural experts and extension officials came up with the observation while addressing the opening session of a daylong workshop related to boosting the quality seed production of pulse, oilseed and spices. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under its 'Farmers level Quality Seed of Pulse, Oilseed and Spice Production, Preservation and Distribution Project' organised the workshop at its zonal office conference hall in Rajshahi on Monday.
More than 100 DAE's district and upazila level officials and other agriculture related scientists and researchers took part in the workshop updating their knowledge on the issue.
DAE Director Zahidul Amin and Director of the project Dr Mahbubur Rahman addressed the workshop as chief and special guests respectively with Additional Director Masudur Rahman in the chair.
DAE's Deputy Directors Khayer Uddin Mollah, Mozder Hossain, Mahmudul Faruque, Shamsul Wadud and Nazrul Islam also spoke. Agriculturist Zahidul Amin said seed must have to be qualitative as its significance towards food security, nutrition and production enhancement is indispensable. He told the meeting that there are enormous prospects of boosting pulse, oilseed and spice production in the region including its vast Barind tract and there is a need for concerted efforts to materialize the potentialities.
Amin mentioned that the government has attached highest priority to the agriculture sector and added that the field level officials and researchers should take the responsibilities of reaching the government's services to the farmers' doorsteps.
Dr Mahbubur Rahman called for forming Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with beneficiary farmers of the project so that they can sustain their activities through utilizing their best practices.
