RAJSHAHI, Feb 16, 2023 (BSS) - Agricultural scientists and researchers
unequivocally called for boosting the production of citrus fruits after
farming expansion and promoting of those through motivating the grassroots
farmers to meet the gradually mounting demands.
 
Present government under the prudent and farsighted leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken time-fitting steps to boost the citrus fruit
production in Rajshahi division, including its vast Brind tract, as its soil
texture and climatic condition is suitable for the cash crop farming.
 
They came up with the observation while addressing the opening ceremony of a
daylong regional workshop titled "Citrus Crop Extension, Management and
Increasing Production in Rajshahi and Bogura region" in Rajshahi today.
 
The Rajshahi Regional Office of the Department of Agricultural Extension
(DAE) arranged the workshop at the conference hall of Postal Academy
supported by the 'Extension, Management and Production Enhancement of Citrus
Fruit Project'.

More than 100 district and upazila level officials and experts from the
agricultural extension and research organizations from all eight districts in
Rajshahi division joined the workshop.
 
They were given ideas and knowledge on how to boost the citrus fruit
production in Rajshahi division after the best uses of existing natural
resources.
 
DAE Additional Director Shamsul Wadud addressed the workshop as the chief
guest, while Additional Director Zebun Nessa Jabedur and Director of the
project Dr Faruque Ahmed spoke as special guests with another Additional
Director Nazrul Islam in the chair.
 
In his remarks, Shamsul Wadud said in terms of food and nutritive values
green and ripe fruits are vital as these are enriched with enormous vitamin
A, B, C, calcium and iron which are essential for the human body irrespective
of age and sex.

So, boosting fruit farming is very important and helpful for the society as a
whole.
 
He said many health experts were seen suggesting their patients to consume
more citrus fruits to protect them from coronavirus infection with early
recovery.
 
Project Director Dr Faruque Ahmmed gave an overview of the project besides
its implementation strategy during his multimedia presentation.
 
He said it is possible to grow orange, mandarin orange and malta
commercially, fulfill the national demand and save foreign exchange by
eliminating the problems by developing good varieties and introducing
improved management techniques.
 
Under the Citrus Development Project, farmers are being motivated to grow
orange, mandarin and other citrus in the favorable growing areas.
Women and tribal farmers are also being involved in growing orange, mandarin
and citrus through training.
 
Dr Ahmmed told the meeting that the project is intended to cultivate citrus
fruits, such as orange, blood orange, malta, local lemon, jara and Colombo
lemon, to meet the Vitamin C demand among the population as well as to export
them abroad.