RAJSHAHI, Feb 23, 2022 (BSS) - Experts have urged the farmers to
cultivate chia seeds for improving their living and livelihood conditions
coupled with meeting up the nutritional deficiency.

    They also mentioned that chia seeds are high in several nutrients that
are important for bone health, including calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

    Apart from this, chia seeds are not only rich in nutrients, omega-3 fat,
antioxidants and fiber but also easy to prepare. Chia seeds are high in
protein and fiber.

    The agricultural scientists and researchers came up with the observation
while addressing a field day meeting to demonstrate fields of chia seed at
Rishikul village in Godagari upazila of the district yesterday.

     Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) organized the meeting
under its project titled "Popularizing of High Valued Unconventional Fruit
and Medicinal Crop in the Barind Area".

    Around 30 farmers joined the meeting and they were given knowledge on how
to boost the yield of chia seeds and other high-valued fruits and medicinal
crops.

    BMDA has been implementing the five-year project in 13 upazilas of
Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts at a cost of around Taka
17.34 crore since early last year.

    Executive Director Engineer Abdur Rashid and the Project Director ATM
Rafiqul Islam addressed the meeting as chief and special guests respectively
with Executive Engineer Zinnurine Khan in the chair.

    Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute
Dr Saedur Rahman spoke as focal person disseminating his expertise on the
issue, adding chia seeds need less water and it is more profitable than other
crops in the area.

    In the present changed situation, the grassroots farmers should be
habituated in farming the high-valued non-conventional crops and fruits.

    Engineer Abdur Rashid gave an illustration of the project along with its
aims, objectives and implementation strategy.

    He said around 52 demonstration orchards will be generated aimed at
boosting production of high-valued non-conventional fruits and medicinal
crops through popularizing farming of those in the Barind area.

    Around 4.15 lakh saplings and 2,000 kilograms of seeds of nonconventional
fruits and crops will be distributed among the farmers free of cost on behalf
of the project to increase such orchards.

    Some 1,500 farmers and 310 officers and employees concerned will be
imparted training on production, transplantation, nurturing and other
techniques of the seedlings.

    Rafiqul Islam said the project is being implemented with the main focus
of boosting commercial farming of the high-valued fruits in the project-
covering areas.

    "We've set the target of establishing 22 orchards for fruits, 20 for
field crops, eight for spices and two for beverages," he said, adding that
most of the highly valued nonconventional fruits, field crops, spices and
herbs will be brought under demonstration.

     Upon successful implementation by June, 2025, the project is expected to
contribute a lot to enhance the number of orchards of nonconventional fruits
and medicinal crops.