RAJSHAHI, June 23, 2022 (BSS) - Agriculture along with the fisheries and livestock has been playing a vital role in ensuring food and nutrition in the region, including its vast Barind tract, for the last couple of decades.

The government under the prudent and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has attached priority to the farming sector with the main thrust of making the nation self-reliant in food production.

Experts and stakeholders made the observation while addressing a seminar titled "Contribution of Rajshahi Division in ensuring Food and Nutrition" here yesterday.

Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) organized the seminar at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) largely attended by officials of the line departments, development activists, members of the civil society and other stakeholders.

Commissioner of Rajshahi Division GSM Zafarullah and DC Abdul Jalil addressed the seminar as chief and special guests with BIRTAN Director Khorshed Alam in the chair.

Former Member Director of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council Dr Monirul Islam highlighted the aspects of agriculture in terms of ensuring food and nutrition in his keynote presentation.

Chief Scientific Officer of the Regional Horticulture Research Centre Dr Mukhlesur Rahman, Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Shamsul Wadud, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute Dr Ilias Hossain, Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Development Golam Mahbub and Deputy Director of the Department of Social Services Hasina Momtaj also spoke.

BIRTAN Senior Scientific Officer Dr Abdul Mazid moderated the discussion.
 
The meeting was told that homestead gardening has been contributing a lot towards accelerating the rural economy with mitigating protein demands, inspiring people to cultivate vegetables on the fallow land near their abodes.

In his remarks, Divisional Commissioner Zafarullah said many people are seen cultivating vegetables, spices and fruits on homesteads and other bare lands round the year and changing their fortunes. Homestead gardening fosters self-sufficiency of the people, he said.

On behalf of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the farmers are being imparted training on vegetable farming.

Various inputs and other logistic supports, including seed, vermicompost and saplings of fruit trees, are being provided to the trained farmers for encouraging them in farming.

The DAE has been promoting homestead gardening under its project titled ‘Establishment of Family Nutrition Gardens in Uncultivated Fallen Lands and Backyards’ so that the farmers can recoup the losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ultimate goal of the project is to contribute to the economic recovery and resilience of the villagers, including the marginalized communities.

Composite fish farming with poultry birds, vegetables and fruits has been gaining popularity in the Rajshahi region contributing a lot towards meeting the gradually increasing demands for animal protein and other nutrition.

Many people have set up small-scale poultry farms and vegetable gardens surrounding their ponds with more investments as they get extra income from composite farming.

The gradual rising of investment to the venture has added a new dimension to the existing economic and other allied fields in the region for the last couple of years.