SYLHET, Jan 31: Just years ago many areas in Sylhet were backward in agriculture. Vast tracts of lands remained barren mainly due to lack of common farmers' interest.
But things have started changing as some young people became involved with modern agriculture in recent years. The government agencies also extended their hands providing knowledge and newer technology to them.
Like some others farmer Abdus Sobur Sujam of Mollargaon in Dakshin Surma upazila has played a good role in bringing arable lands under farming recently.
Along with others, he has motivated farmers on the modern farming methods in an area, which had long been far behind in this regard.
His father Ashraf Ali was awarded Bangabandhu Agriculture Award (National) in 1974.
Abdus Sobur, is the founder-secretary of the Common Interest Group (CIG) of farmers to increase group activities for advanced farming in 2010. Again he was elected its secretary in 2018.
Formed with DAE's inspiration the CIG procured power tiller, reaper, water pump, sprayer etc at a cost of Tk 0.5 million last week as they were awarded 70 per cent subsidy for these.
The group was, however, given a transplanter free earlier. The group had cultivated Boro paddy on about 300 bighas last year. The group members get benefited by using these for their own lands while they earn by renting these out to others, an official said.
DAE Deputy Director, Sylhet Md. Abul Hashem said the farmers under the CIG had been playing laudable role in pioneering some non-traditional crops for better earning as well as to encourage the common farmers. Besides, it has been successful in farming paddy, vegetable etc on arable lands.
Sobur had set demonstration unit of vermicompost last year with the assistance from National Agriculture Technology Programme (NATP-Phase II). Same will be done this year too.
Besides, he has already established a 50-decimal demonstration plot of high yielding taro (BARI-4 variety), with the NATP's assistance. Already he had earned Tk 10,000 from it. Hopefully the harvest would continue for another five months, Sobur said yesterday.
NATP Director Dr. Ratan Chandra Dey during his visit to my plot weeks ago praised the yield and assured of further cooperation.
BADC, Irrigation also constructed about 700 feet irrigation drains under a scheme to bring Boro lands under farming in Mollargaon through irrigation two years ago, informed Assistant Engineer Rubayed Al Faisal saying, Sobur and his co-farmers were doing well.
The irrigation scheme had helped us well in bringing fallow lands under cultivation, said Abdus Sobur adding, we need another 700-feet drain will be dug as soon as possible to extend the farming area.
Production and using organic fertiliser is another area of Sobur and his cofarmers. It helps yielding safe vegetables and other crops, DAE officials said.
