Video Conference held

Video Conference Held

Social Media Dialogue on "Poison free vegetables and fruits production" with the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad was held on 5 August in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner, Meherpur.

Shafiqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner, Hemayet Hossain, Deputy Director, Local Government, Maynul Hasan, Sadar upazila Nirbahi Officer, Shopon Kumar Kha, Training Officer, Agricultural Extension Department, Rafiqul Alam, President, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Meherpur among others were joined the video conference.

At first the Principal Secretary talked to the Deputy Commissioners, Agricultural Experts and direct peasants of ten districts of Khulna division. Then he talked to Rajshahi division. 

I observed that the Deputy Commissioner of the districts even who joined recently and agricultural officers upheld the long data of their activities except the Deputy Commissioner, Meherpur. The farmers who participated at the conference talked to Principal Secretary like parrot fashion. 

Hearing there conversation, I thought all the  districts except Meherpur achieved their goals  in producing vegetables and fruits without pesticides. 

It goes without saying that more than five mini trucks coming daily from Dhaka and other places in the towns and villages to supply pesticides.   Pesticide shops established hither and thither   even in the remote villages in the district. They are giving door step services. 

I told that farmers are the main researchers. According to health of the soil they take decision of cultivation. If we cultivate 10 bighas of land, we use pesticides on 8 bighas and rest 2 bighas without pesticides on experimental basis. Without pesticides, the cost of cultivation is higher than that of usage pesticides. It also takes more time. However, it is profitable, though incidental charges are high. Because, the cost of the vegetables and fruits having no pesticides three times more than that of others.

However, government's initiative gives a rays of hope that in future we will consume pesticide free vegetables and fruits it the concerned departments continue the propaganda.