Zahid urges greater focus on cotton cultivation among farmers
Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain today stressed the need to encourage farmers to cultivate cotton, saying the crop is used to manufacture a wide range of products and has significant economic value. The minister, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, made the remarks while addressing a programme at the Birampur Upazila Auditorium in Dinajpur district. The programme featured the distribution of cotton seedlings by the Cotton Development Board, educational stipends and sports equipment by the Department of Social Services, and vegetable seeds and fertilizers by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
"Farmers would achieve higher yields by cultivating hybrid cotton varieties. Our new generation of researchers has made significant progress in cotton research and achieved notable success," the minister said. Prof Zahid further stated farmers' interest in cotton cultivation would increase in the coming years if they could make good profits from the crop, adding that the Cotton Development Board has been working under government patronage to promote cotton cultivation across the country.
The programme, chaired by Birampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tanzina Khatun, saw the free distribution of high-yielding hybrid cotton seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides and plant growth regulators (PGRs) among more than 100 farmers. More than 300 silk cotton (Shimul) and muslin cotton seedlings were also distributed free of cost to the farmers. The Department of Social Services also handed over educational stipend cheques to 107 students in the area. Among others, Cotton Development Board Executive Director Md Rezaul Karim, Rangpur Divisional Deputy Director Jafar Ali and Thakurgaon Zone Chief Cotton Development Officer Selina Akter were present at the programme.
