A farmer training session and field day on integrated pest management (IPM) for rice cultivation were held in Chakaria as part of the Safe Crop Management Program.
The event was organised with support from the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, under its partner project, and the Chakaria Upazila Agriculture Office.
The training workshop took place on Sunday morning at the local Ilishia Bazar Para area. Dr. Md. Najmul Bari, Principal Scientific Officer of the Entomology Department at BRRI Gazipur, attended the programme as the chief guest.
Presided over by Chakaria Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Shahnaj Ferdousi, and conducted by Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Mojahid Ul Mostofa, the session was also attended by former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Land Abdul Malek, Agriculture Extension Officer Ishrat Jahan Sweety, BRRI Scientific Officers Abu Naeem and Mozammel Haque, and Agricultural Information Service Officer Md. Lokman Hakim, along with local farmers, women farmers, and community members.
During his speech, the chief guest emphasized the advantages of using natural methods to control pests instead of chemical pesticides.
“Pesticides are toxic and extremely harmful to human health. Excessive use has become so common that we often overlook its dangers. We must reduce dependency on chemical pesticides and protect our fields through natural and organic pest control methods,” he said.
The Upazila Agriculture Officer added that farmers are being encouraged to adopt IPM techniques for producing toxin-free crops.
She also noted that the agriculture office is providing continuous training and guidance to promote cultivation practices using natural inputs.
Following the training session, the participants visited the demonstration plot of BRRI dhan-103 in the same area. More than a hundred farmers participated in the crop-cutting event and field day.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
