RAJSHAHI, Feb 22, 2024 (BSS) - Around 86,430 farmers and 7,350 others are
being imparted agriculture technology training aimed at successful expansion
of modern tech in the agro-sector of the division.
 
In this regard, 93,780 people, including 86,430 farmers are being brought
under a two-day need-based training course in different batches as 25,820
demonstrations of new technologies and crop varieties and plants are being
made.
 
The promotional activities are being done in the division under a project
titled: "Agriculture Development Project of Rajshahi Division through
Expansion of Modern Technology" being implemented for extensive agricultural
production.
 
"We are arranging 2,582 field days in each of the project covering areas for
reaching the modern farming technologies to the grassroots farmers so that
they can derive total benefits of the project," Dr SM Hasanuzzaman, director
of the project, while talking to BSS.
 
He said the five-year project is being implemented in 67 upazilas of all
eight districts in the division at a cost of around Taka 147.03 crore since
January, 2020.
 
On behalf of the project, 201 farm machineries are being distributed among
farmers' organisations at 70 percent subsidy in order to reduce the farmers-
level production cost through farm mechanization.
 
Dr Hasanuzzaman said Rajshahi division has been contributing a lot towards
meeting the country's overall food demands as it has vast plains, vast barind
tract, scores of beels and char areas of Padma, Jamuna and many small and big
rivers.
 
It is also famous for production of all kinds of food grains, pulses, oils,
vegetables, fruits and spices.
 
After meeting local demands, the region has been supplying food grains,
fruits and vegetables to different parts of the country including the capital
Dhaka regularly.
 
Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts are famous for mango
production while Natore and Pabna for litchi and Pabna, Bogura, Rajshahi,
Natore and Joypurhat for vegetable production.
 
The Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing the project to increase the
overall development and production of agriculture in the division through
converting the vast land into bi-crop and tri-crop.
 
Upon successful implementation by this year end, the project will contribute
a lot towards increasing cropping intensity to 242 percent from 237 percent
through expansion of modern agriculture technologies.
 
Besides, the project is intended to enhance production of paddy, pulse and
oilseed to 12 percent each, wheat and maize to 10 percent each, spice to 13
percent, vegetables to 15 percent and fruits to 14 percent.