`Farmers are the key actor of Bangladesh. Along with the government, farmers, teachers, researchers, journalists and non-governmental development organizations should work together on the agricultural system and Haor rice. No one can do anything alone.’ Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (Metrorail) said these as the chief guest at a meeting organized at the regional office of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Habiganj recently. A mid-term progress sharing meeting was held for Practice and Dissemination of Disaster Resistant Climate Change Adaptable Crop Cultivation Expansion Project in the Haor area implemented by ASED Habiganj and Share the Planet Association Japan. This project is funded by JICA amd technical support by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Tetsuo Tsutsui, Chairperson of Share the Planet Association of Japan, Nurul Islam, Chief Executive Officer of Habiganj Zilla Parishad, Dr. Hirendra Nath Barman, PSO and head, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Regional office of Habiganj, Md. Ishaque Faruquee, feature editor of Daily Rupali Bangladesh attended the event as special guests. The meeting was presided over by Md. Dabirul Islam, former additional secretary of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.. Apart from this, officers from all departments of district and upazila level government administrators of Habiganj, teachers and students of various universities, colleges and schools, representatives of several non-governmental organizations, chairman of Union Parishad and farmers related to local level projects and officers at all levels of ASED Habiganj were present as guests in the meeting.
From 2022, Disaster Resistant Climate Change Adaptable Crop Cultivation Expansion Project is implementing in Sadar and Baniachang upazilas of Habiganj district. At the beginning of the program, Chief Executive of ASED Habiganj Jafar Iqbal Chowdhury explained the purpose of the project and states his welcome speech. Later on, Dr Hirendra Narth Barman, PSO and Head, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, regional office Habiganj presented an wonderful report on the current status of paddy cultivation in Haor area and forthcoming initiatives. After that Tetsuo Tsutsui, chairperson of Share the Planet Association, Japan presented a report on the project’s interim achievements, successes, challenges and upcoming tactics.
Various guests in their speeches mentioned that the project is making a significant contribution to climate-friendly agricultural technology, women empowerment and disaster preparedness. Project beneficiaries (farmers and local stakeholders) discussed the support of the project in the meeting and acknowledged ASED Habiganj. The farmers highlighted in their speech that many of them do not know about the new variety of rice invented by BRRI; good pesticides are not available to control pests; Sometimes due to lack of good communication, a quarter of the income has to be paid to the workers as wages, good fertilizers are not available. These are such a big problem.
Speakers fear that if farmers do not benefit, then the cultivation will decrease. Besides, the issue of initiatives, research and expansion in the development of agricultural system also came up in the discussion. The chief guest was requested to create and promote a promotional video highlighting the plight of agriculture and farmers in Metrorail.
In the speech of the chief guest, Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited expressed his satisfaction with the success of the project and highlighted the need for such initiatives to ensure sustainable development. And emphasized on the joint efforts of the concerned divisions, departments and sub-divisions to improve the quality of life of the people of Haor area through the rapid expansion of such projects in other areas surrounded by Haor.
President of the program in the closing speech. Md. Dabirul Islam said that farmers are benefiting from the cultivation of new varieties of rice. This is a very inspiring thing. We need to collaborate with all for better Bangladesh. The Haor area has always been very important for Bangladesh’s natural diversity and agriculture-based economy. So we have to focus on farmers and new dimension of agriculture.