The Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Executive Chairman, BARC, Director Generals of BARI, BINA, BWMRI, SRDI, other high officials of BARC, DAE and NARS institutes and crop zoning project personnel monitored the performance of three demonstration trial plots of wheat at Gomastapur, maize at Godagari and onion at Puthia established by SRDI, BWMRI and BARI respectively during 3-4 March 2023. In Gomastapur upazila, the Hon’ble Secretary and the visiting team observed the demonstration trial plot of wheat (BARI Gom-33). The crop condition was better for ‘Khamari’ mobile app recommended fertilizer dose compared to farmer’s fertilizer application plot. They also observed that farmers are using imbalanced (over-dose/ under-dose) fertilizer and is a major cause of yield gaps and food insecurity. The crop zoning project personnel showed the operation of ‘Khamari’ mobile app in the field. The Hon’ble Secretary, MoA, EC, BARC and other high officials were satisfied about the performance of ‘Khamari’ mobile app.
A field day was organized adjacent to the demonstration trial site at Parbatipur in Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj district. The Director Generals of BINA, SRDI and BWMRI, Additional Director, DAE, Rajshahi region, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Gomostapur upazila, officials of DAE, Scientists of research institutes, crop zoning project personnel, and Farmers were attended the field day. The Hon’ble Secretary, MoA in her speech expressed her satisfaction in observing good performance of wheat crop and area coverage in this region. She requested the farmers to consult extension personnel in using balanced fertilizer for their land following the ‘Khamari’ app. She hoped the production of wheat will be much higher than the previous year. The Executive Chairman of BARC in his deliberation explained the usefulness of ‘Khamari’ in crop production. He requested the SAAOs for providing help to the farmers in using the ‘Khamari’ app. One representative from farmers’ also spoke on the field day and expressed their willingness in using the ‘Khamari’ app acknowledging its implication toward crop production.
On 4 March 2023 the Hon’ble Secretary, MoA, Executive Chairman, BARC and other high officials of BARC, DAE and NARS institutes and crop zoning project personnel monitored two demonstration trial plots of maize at Godagari and onion at Puthia of Rajshahi district established by BWMRI and BARI respectively.