KHULNA, Aug 27, 2026 (BSS) - Agricultural mechanisation is crucial to boost crop production in saline-prone coastal areas, experts said, stressing quality mat-type seedlings, skilled machine operators and proper equipment maintenance.

They made the remarks at a practical training workshop on modern rice production machinery held at Boyarbhanga Technology Village in Batiaghata on Aug 25.

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Satellite Station, Khulna, organised the programme under the Location-Specific Rice Varieties and Technology Development Project to evaluate mechanical rice transplanting and train farmers and students.

Experts said modern machinery can reduce labour and production costs while saving time, particularly in transplanting, harvesting and threshing.

A practical trial showed that a rice transplanter can complete transplanting with one or two workers, compared with four to five labourers under the conventional method.

Dr Md Anwar Hossen, Project Director of the project, said machinery alone cannot modernise agriculture without skilled operators and suitable seedlings.

Around 45 students and six teachers from Khulna Agricultural University, along with representatives of CIMMYT, BARI and local farmers, participated in the workshop.