From The New Nation, Bangladesh: The government is planning to introduce online fertiliser recommendation service for the farmers across the country by June 2010 to increase yield of crops at reduced production cost.
The Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) has already started database updating of the land linked to the soil fertility to this end in view, the agriculture ministry sources said here on Sunday.
Under the service, the farmers will get crop-base information on balanced fertiliser application through the mobile phone community information centre (CIC) or dialling a specific number like 7676 of Banglalink helpline.
The government has already launched a pilot phase digital fertiliser recommendation system for the farmers of 30 upazilas.
Officials of the SRDI and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) are motivating the farmers about the service through organizing yard meeting.
Every day they are organizing at least five yard meetings in each upazila and at least 50 farmers are participating in the meeting.
Senior scientific officer of SRDI Md Moqbul Hossain told the news agency yesterday that they have included the soil fertility data of 100 upazials under the update database.
He said farmers will get fertiliser recommendations by providing six basic information like name of the crop, type of land, name of the union, upazila and district.
Quoting a SRDI study on optimum use of fertiliser, another SRDI official said a revolution will take place in agriculture sector with the launch of the system.
He said it will help decrease farmers cost of fertiliser by around 25 per cent on one hand and increase yield of the crops by 15-20 per cent on the other.
The SRDI said the use of fertiliser, as recommended by the system, will raise average yield of Aman crop by 25.18 per cent, Boro by 29 per cent, ginger by 29 per cent, garlic by 22 per cent, jute by 18 per cent, mustered by 9 per cent and chilli by 8 per cent.
Now the online fertiliser recommendation services are in operation in 30 upazilas like Kaunia under Rangpur, Hatibandha under Lalmonirhat, Nageshwari, Bhurungamari and Kurigram sadar under Kurigram, Sundarganj and Saghata under Gaibandha, Jaldhaka, Kishorganj and Nilphamari Sadar under Nilphamari, Dhunat under Bogra, Sirajganj sadar under Sirajganj, Khoksa under Khustia, Damurhuda under Chuadanga, Narail Sadar under Narail, Kotchandpur under Jenidah,Ramganj under Lakshmipur, Chatkhil and Sudharam under Noakhali, Ishwarganj under Mymensingh, Bhanga, Modhukhali and Alphadanga under Faridpur, Shibchar under Madaripur, Gosairhat under Shariatpur, Sharankhola and Morelganj under Bagerhat, Bakerganj under Barisal and Lalmohon under Bhola district.
|
|
