ZCZC
BSS-04
COTTON-FARMING-WORKSHOP (with picture)
Call to expand cotton farming in drought-prone Barind area
RAJSHAHI, June 26, 2019 (BSS) – Utmost emphasis should be given on
expansion of cotton farming in the drought-prone Barind area after the best
uses of its existing potentialities.
Farmers and others concerned should be motivated so that they can expand
cotton farming in the area for boosting up its production to meet up the
country’s demand.
The observations came at a regional workshop titled “Prospect of Cotton
Farming in Drought-prone Barind area” hosted by Cotton Development Board
(CDB) held at the conference hall of Barind Multipurpose Development
Authority (BMDA) in Rajshahi metropolis today.
BMDA Chairman Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Additional Secretary
(Research) to the Ministry of Agriculture Komolaranjan Das addressed the
workshop as chief and special guests respectively while Executive Director of
CDB Dr Farid Uddin Ahmed was in the chair.
BMDA Executive Director Engineer Abdur Rashid and Chief Cotton
Development Officer Mozaddid Al Shamim also spoke. CDB Deputy Director Abu
Iliash Mian was the keynote presenter.
Dr Akram Chowdhury says the cotton production could be enhanced to a
greater extent in the region if necessary measures were adopted and due
importance was given to the sector.
Considering the demand of the country’s textile industries, the local
cotton growers can meet only a meager 3-5 percent of the annual demand and
the rest is met through import.
He said: “There is a lack of researchers in the cotton sector of in the
region. If we could raise awareness about the benefits of cotton farming,
there will be more people interested in this sector.”
Dr Farid Uddin said there is an enormous prospect of boosting cotton
production after the best uses of existing natural resources and the CDB has
been working to materialize all the prospects.
BSS/AH/FI/ 1505 hrs