Hena Times

Meherpur Model Farmhouse Gets International Recognition

Meherpur model farmhouse got international recognition that was innovated by Dr. Akhtaruzzaman, Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agricultural Extension(DAE).

Meherpur is the agriculturally potential area among the 64 districts in the country. Green vegetation is the year round common phenomena of Meherpur. As per public opinion, the whole area of Meherpur itself is a demonstration plots of multifarious crops.

Dr. Akhtaruzzaman, a creative  agronomist  has been working as  DD of  DAE since January 2018 who is also the government representative of the district for the development in agricultural sector. After  joining here  he tried his level best to uphold the overall agricultural development of Meherpur. As a contriver he developed a model farmhouse in front of his office that was quite abandoned, bushy and nasty place one year ago. The pedestrians  of the area would say sarcastically  that the agriculture  office as "junglebari" instead of "Khamarbari".

After one year the  area has radically been changed  with the utmost creative intervention of  the DD. That office is now updated by lightning display board, LED board, sufficient security bulb and many other things. In deed there is a government instruction to write a common name "khamarbari" on the display board of each and every  DAE office from national to root level. On the contrary, our  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has 10 priorities  special initiatives. Out of ten the first priority  initiative is to implement "My farm my house". Keeping in view the same  Dr. Zaman established a lively mini Farmhouse Model in front of his office  following the eternal  agricultural word of Bengali poet and legendary astrologers Lady Khona of Meherpur,  "dig pond on east side, plant bamboo on west side, slim plant on north and bananas on south", said Khona. Farmhouse entrance has been  decorated by weeping tree. Main building of farmhouse was constructed  by brick wall. On the roof, there is a roof garden, the house corridor was designed by latest hydroponic horticulture. Open space of house yard is unique. In front of the yard there is a beautifully flowers garden having a nice bee hive. Drip irrigation is being used in flower garden. Left side of the main entrance of the house there is a fruit orchard of 13 plants so that the owner of the house can get any kinds of fruits everyday through out the year. East side of the house there is mini pond. The bank of the pond designed with many kinds of fruits and vegetables plant. The watercress scenarios of monosex Telapia fishes  and  spreading petals of red water lily are really spellbound. On the south side of the mini pond there is a homestead vegetables production following the "kalikapur model" developed by the scientists of BARI. By using this model one can everyday get  any kinds of one kilo fresh vegetables if he has one  decimal land in his farmhouse territory. Behind the main farmhouse building one can find beautification of climbers vegetables, sun grass cultivation, fodder crops cultivation etc. All the techniques of composting, vermi composting, tricho-composting, beef fattening, poultry farming, eco friendly indigenous fire wood savings stove, easy biogas preparation techniques were uniquely arranged around the farmhouse premises. Nevertheless, on can be l seen herbal garden, year round flowers garden, rare and uncommon fruits garden having lots of plants over there. All techniques of rice cultivation were arranged fantastically like, lining, logow, perching, alternate wetting and drying (AWD), light trap, use of granular urea etc. Innovation attraction are Viticulture wall agriculture. Roof gardening now switched over into wall agriculture by using unused fruits crates. You will find huge information along with Bangla name, English name, scientific name of each and every plants on the metallic signboard attached to each plants. In this regards we could say this model farmhouse as a mini agro technological park. Now the pedestrians  main attraction is the beautification of this model farmhouse. Cross section of interested people along with enthusiastic farmers are regularly visiting this model farmhouse. Meanwhile some people of Meherpur area started to establish this model in their own house. The DAE people are always concern with them. Now this model farmhouse draw the attraction from national to global level.

When asked about the international recognition, Dr. Akhtaruzzaman, DD told me  that he  submitted a synopsis of his model farmhouse to 6th international conference of agricultural 2019 (AGRICO 2019) that would be held in  Thailand this month. After three folded threadbare discussion  and analysis  the AGRICO 2019 committee accepted his theme and officially invited him to present his innovation as an oral presenter in the international conference is scheduled to be held on 22 August, 2019 in . Meanwhile, he got the government approval to attend this international seminar, he added.