Bangladesh: CSISA stakeholders share experiences in workshop

The Barisal Hub of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) in Bangladesh organized an experience-sharing workshop held on 25 February for its stakeholders.

The stakeholders, who were participants in the activity were composed of representatives from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, and partner NGOs; staff members of partner NGOs working in the Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, and Bhola districts; scientists from the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute; selected farmers; seed dealers; and representatives from various private companies, UN organizations, and projects.

Md. Shahidul Islam, cropping systems agronomist of CSISA-IRRI in the Barisal Hub, presented the keynote paper.

Others who presented papers on prospects and problems in the adoption of high-yielding rice varieties in their respective areas were: Debangshu Kumar Saha (DAE-Barisal District); Md. Lutfar Rahman (DAE-Barguna District); Md. Abdur Razzak (DAE-Jhalokathi District); Niruttom Kumar Sarkar (DAE-Patuakhali District); and Satyen Mondal, head, BRRI R/S, Barisal.

The presenters and some of the participants exchanged accounts of their own experiences through lively discussion.

Also during the activity, a farmer named Md. Jalal Ahmed Akon received a crest from DAE-Barisal for his outstanding contribution to CSISA-IRRI activities and in the dissemination of modern rice technologies among farmers.

Khondokar Sirajul Karim, additional director, DAE-Barisal, encouraged the participants to provide services appropriate to a community, with  emphasis on production of good-quality rice seeds and seeds of high-value crops such as flower, carrot, sunflower, and mungbean.

Guests of the event were Shahid Ullah, additional director for implementation, Field Service Wing, Khamarbari, Dhaka; Khondokar Sirajul Karim, additional director, DAE, Barisal; and M.A. Saleque, coordinator, CSISA-IRRI.

Loretta Hempsall, corporate services manager, CSISA-IRRI, also attended the workshop.

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