LEDARS has distributed 9,750 kg of salt and drought tolerant paddy seeds among a total of 1,055 farmers in Shyamnagar, Assasuni and Koyra upazilas during this Amon season. Among them, 786 farmers from Munshiganj, Gabura, Ishwaripur and Kashimari Unions of Shyamnagar have received 7,495 kg of salt and drought tolerant paddy seeds on 4th July from LEDARS Head Office.
Shyamnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mr. Md Akter Hossain inaugurated the seed distribution as the chief guest in the paddy seed distribution program under the chairmanship of LEDARS Executive Director Mr. Mohon Kumar Mondal. Shyamnagar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mr. S. M. Enamul Islam was present as a special guest. Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mr. Tushar Majumdar, Munshiganj Union Parishad Chairman Mr. Ashim Kumar Mridha, Assistant Agriculture Officer Mr. Md Jamal Hossain, Program Manager Mr. Md Ikbal Faruk and other staffs of LEDARS were also present in the program. The chief guest said, “If we preserve seeds at home then the seed crisis will be reduced. Good quality seeds are very rare. If all of we have cultivate salt and drought tolerant paddy, the agricultural sector will be more prosperous. LEDARS activities of supporting the farmers should be expanded further. Farmers’ involvement in agriculture will further increase through non-government development organizations like LEDARDS, along with the government’s agriculture department.”
Due to the effects of climate change, salinity is increasing day by day in the coastal areas, and there is a shortage of irrigation water due to irregular rainfall. LEDARS has been trying to encourage farmers to cultivate salt and drought tolerant paddy varieties in order to sustain agriculture in the context of multiple crises in the agriculture sector. These paddy seeds include BR-23, Bridhan-52, Bridhan-67, Bridhan-73, Bridhan-78 and Bridhan-87.