Sr. Staff Reporter, Rangpur :
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari) entomology department organized a field day on the management of harmful insects of Kankarol (sweet bitter gourd) through organic pesticide technology at Ranipukur East in Mithapukur on Tuesday.
United Commercial Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, ATM Tahmiduzzaman was present as the chief guest. Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Nirmal Kumar Dutta of Department of Entomology, Bari was present as special guest. Md. Sultan Ahmed, Dr. AKM Khorsheduzzaman and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Md. Al-Amin Hossain Talukder were also present.
While addressing the gathering, the invited guests said that agriculture is one of the main driving forces of Bangladesh’s economy and livelihood. Presently Bangladesh is self-sufficient in food grain production and we have enviable success in producing many crops.
The main obstacle to the growth of our agricultural production is the attack of various types of harmful insects. To control these pests, our farmers are indiscriminately dependent on chemical pesticides, which negatively impact pest management, causing dire side effects on the environment and public health.
In view of this situation, with the aim of producing nutritious and safe food, reducing the use of chemical pesticides at the field level, introducing and expanding the organic pest management system can play a role in increasing the farmer’s income and production.
It was informed in the gathering that 20 vegetable farmers have completed the cultivation of poison-free Kankarol on 3 hectares of land in this area.