Picture: Collected
In the Gopalganj district, using modern technology of agriculture in Kachuripana
floating bed has created immense potential to ensure food security. Now,
vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices are being produced commercially throughout
the year on floating beds. Farmers are getting a profit by selling these
vegetables, fruits, and spices. 1 thousand 800 farmers of 5 Upazilas in the Gopalganj district have adopted this profitable technology. Deputy Director of
Gopalganj Agricultural Extension Department Dr. Arvind Kumar Roy informed this
information.
The
official also said that vegetables have been produced in the floating beds of
Kachuripana in Gopalganj for hundreds of years. The farmers of Tungipara
Upazila, including the flooded Mitradanga, and nearby villages invented this method
for their own needs. They used to increase the size of the bed. So the bed
would break in the air. There was no end to their problems in this cultivation.
At that time, they used to grow leafy vegetables such as lady's fingers, red
vegetables, and datashak in this bed. The Agricultural Research Institute
undertook a research expansion and popularization project on floating bed
vegetable and spice cultivation 5 years ago by applying modern technology to
floating agriculture instead of traditional methods. Later they started
research work with farmers on the field level. They reduce the size of the bed. He
started the cultivation of leaves, vines, fruits, and spices in floating beds. It
has brought great success to Gopalganj. And this success has created the immense
potential for ensuring food security.
Floating bed vegetable and spice farming research expansion and popularization project director Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Talukder said, our agricultural land is decreasing. The population is increasing day by day. Along with this, there is a risk of disruption of agricultural production due to climate change. To meet these challenges, the government took this project with the aim of increasing agricultural production through the best use of land in flooded areas during monsoon. For the last 5 years, we have been working with the modern technology of floating agriculture. This technology has made it possible to ensure nutrition by producing food. Along with that, food is within the reach of people. Additional Secretary of the Extension Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rabindrashri Barua, visited Mitradanga village of Tungipara Upazila of Gopalganj to cultivate modern technology of floating agriculture. He also shared experiences with farmers, researchers, and agricultural extension officers. He will present it to the country's policymakers. Then the policymakers will take a decision in this regard. If the modern technology of floating agriculture is expanded, it will be possible to ensure the nutrition of the common people by increasing the food production of the country.
Dr.
Mohsin Howladar and H.M. Khairul Basar, senior scientific officers of the
Gopalganj surface research department of the Agricultural Research Institute,
said that most of the land in Gopalganj is under water for 8 months of the
year. Only one crop Borodhan was produced in these lands in a year. Therefore,
farmers make floating beds on the water by utilizing the water waste to
increase agricultural production. He used to cultivate and produce leafy
vegetables there. In this, they could meet family expenses. We have taught
farmers modern technology of floating bed agriculture. Now they are producing
various crops commercially here including Watermelon, Bangi, Onion, Chilli,
Ginger, Turmeric, Cucumber, Gourd, Pumpkin, Tomato, Lady’s finger, Chichinga,
Cauliflower, Jhinge, Cabbage, Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Ghee-Kanchan Cabbage,
Palongshak, etc. They are eating these themselves. They are earning money by
selling the extra crop in the market. The cultivation of this method indicates the
food security of the country.
Sakthi
Pad Kirttanya (65), a farmer of Mitradanga village, said that we are 15/20
farmers who cultivate using modern technology in floating beds throughout the
year. I can earn a lot of money by selling the crops that are produced in the
market. We see many people tending to farms in floating beds all year round.
This method of farming produces safe crops free of poison. So there is a huge
demand for our products in the market.
Krishani
Champa Kirttanya (50) of Mitradanga village said, "Earlier, we used to
cultivate floating beds as shown by our grandfathers. The crops were not so good
there. Crops are improving after the adoption of modern technology. We are fine
now.
Rabindrashree
Barua, Additional Secretary of the Extension Division of the Ministry of Agriculture,
said that there are 229 Bils and wetlands in Gopalganj. They get submerged
during monsoons. A lot of kachuripana is available here. Therefore, if we can
expand cultivation in 229 Bils and reservoirs by making floating beds on the
water with kachuripana, the vegetables produced on floating beds from this
district will be able to meet the vegetable demand of a large part of the
country. He also said that in the cultivation of this method, modern equipment
for making beds with kachuripana is used in different countries of the world.
Here it will be recommended to add those modern technologies to this
cultivation. I visited the floating bed cultivation area. I have exchanged the
experience of those concerned with it. This I will present to the policymakers. They will decide on the future of this cultivation. But I think this
method of farming will play a role in ensuring food security and nutrition.
Source:
Online/SZK
Comment Now