The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is pushing tray-grown seedlings in polyshade houses to fill the shortage of good vegetable seedlings on Bangladesh's river chars. The seedlings will be sold cheaply to farmers nearby, and the farmers who get the houses are meant to become entrepreneurs themselves. The plan for 2026-27 is 121 polyshade houses of 5 decimals each.
On Wednesday, five days of skills training began at the Rajalak Horticulture Centre in Savar for 60 farmers who have received houses under the 'Modern Agricultural Technology Extension in Char Areas of Bangladesh (1st revised)' project. They are learning how to raise seedlings in trays, why it matters, and how to maintain the houses and manage production.
DAE director general Abdur Rahim said the farmers with polyshade houses will become known as 'lead farmers' in their areas. As well as becoming entrepreneurs, they will sell quality seedlings cheaply to local char farmers, who will get good seedlings and grow more vegetables.
Project director Ziaur Rahman said tray seedling production in the houses installed last year is working very well and those farmers are earning from selling seedlings. He asked the farmers for their help in making this year's 121 houses productive.
People involved in the project say a major problem for char farming is the lack of quality seedlings and modern technology close at hand. Local seedling production will cut dependence on bringing seedlings from far away, create new entrepreneurs and lift char farm output. DAE directors Md Roushan Alam and Dr Md Mojibur Rahman attended. The report is from Naya Diganta.
Photo: Judgefloro / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Source: Naya Diganta
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