Turn vast haor into two-crop area
Suggest agriculturists
As the flash floods susceptible mono-crop areas pose risks to the poor every year, agriculturists have suggested turning the country's vast haor into a two-crop area by growing varieties of short-duration vegetables beside boro rice.
Livelihood of the landless and marginal farmers in the country's northeastern parts could be improved, if the risks of flash floods can be averted using double-cropping patterns, they said.
The agriculture experts made the recommendations based on an action research, conducted by the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) scientists in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
Professor Dr SM Altaf Hossain and Dr Golam Rabbani of BAU presented the research at Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (Barc) in the city.
The research was conducted under a Concern Worldwide's project titled Haor Initiatives for Sustainable Alternative Livelihood (Hisal).
The research was conducted in the haor areas of Ajmiriganj, Sulla, Mithamoin, Austogram and Nikli upazilas. Sunamganj, Moulavibazar, Sylhet, Kishoreganj and Netrakona districts have vast areas of haor.
In March-April this year, flash floods destroyed boro crop on several thousand hectares of land.
Dr Rabbani said, under the project, farmers planted indigenous variety of potato as the main crop and radish as the intercrop in early November after recession of the floods.
After 60 days, the farmers harvested the potato and then planted boro rice, which were also harvested before the flash floods, he said.
A Concern Worldwide publication showed, from 10 decimals of land, farmers harvested 480 kilograms (kg) of potato worth Tk 9,600 market price and radish worth Tk 1,500 market price.
Farmers now got Tk 11,100 from the producers, when production costs remained at Tk 5,600. Earlier, farmers could harvest only 324 kg of rice from the same decimals of land.
The research findings revealed that the farmers made better profit by following the cropping pattern of potato and radish and boro rice, the publication said.
Dr Rabbani said, before the boro crop, other crops like tomato, red amarnath, cabbage, garlic and chilli could also be produced.
Besides, homestead gardening could be a good option on which the authorities should focus more.
Department of Agriculture Extension Director General Sayeed Ali said, since the 60's, Bangladesh's arable land has diminished from 92 lakh hectares to 82 lakh hectares, which is a real threat to the food security for the rising population.
Still, the food production could be increased if opportunities at the haor areas could be utilised, he said.
Ali said appropriate crop varieties should be developed for the haor areas so that both the boro rice and the vegetables can be grown without hampering each other.
"This will also create more employment opportunities for the poor people," he said.
Concern Worldwide Country Director Dr AKM Musha and European Union section head Koen Duchateau also spoke on the occasion.
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