DAE launches rice seedling transplanter machine

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has launched a rice seedling transplanter machine for transplantation of Boro rice seedlings prepared on trays and mechanisation of agriculture in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram.

Deputy Director of the Kurigram DAE Agriculturist Md Abdur Rashid opened the Boro rice seedling transplantation using a rice seedling transplanter in village Kodomertol in Hasnabad union of the upazila on Wednesday afternoon as the chief guest.

Nageshwari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nur Ahmmed Masum presided over a function arranged on the occasion under the Agriculture Incentive Programme of the DAE for local farmers.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Md Shahriar Hossain, Agriculture Extension Officers Selina Afroz and Tanzima Khatun, Sub-assistant Agriculture Officers Akhter Jamil, Shafikul Islam and Abdul Alim addressed the occasion.

Agriculturist Shahriar Hossain said local farmers would get the benefits of transplantation of Boro rice seedlings on their crop lands using rice transplanter machines during this Boro season.

“Rice transplanter machines ensure uniform depth of transplanted seedlings that make sure healthier and faster growth of tender plants and increase 20 percent Boro rice yield and reduce farming cost by 20 percent,” he said.

Agriculturalist Rashid narrated the benefits of using rice transplanter machines, adoption of which reduces the time between crop harvesting and next crop planting due to increasing crop intensity under changed climatic patterns.

He urged all concerned for making the best use of rice seedling transplanter machines to enhance Boro rice production at reduced costs to ensure national food security.