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.
