Press Release: The Horticulture Research Center of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has arranged an inception workshop titled ‘Development of production package for horticultural crops in rooftop and open space in Urban areas of Bangladesh’ today (Saturday, October 10, 2020) at the Institute’s Kazi Badruddoza auditorium. The workshop was organized with the funding of NATP Phase-2 project of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC).
BARI Director (Research) Dr. Md. Miaruddin was the chief guest at the workshop. Director (Horticulture Research Centre) & Coordinator of the project Dr. Abeda Khatun presided over the function while Director (Tuber Crops Research Centre) Dr. S M Shrifuzzaman, Director (PIU-BARC, NATP-2) Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid were present as special guest. Prof. (Retd.) of Horticulture Department, BSMRAU, Dr. M. Mofazzal Hossain was present as expert member at the technical session. Chief Scientific Officer of Floriculture Division of BARI & Principal Investigator (Component-1) of the project Dr. Kabita Anzu-Man-Ara gave the welcome address. Other directors of BARI, scientists from different divisions and teachers from different universities were also present at the workshop.
During the technical session of the workshop, various aspects of the project were highlighted by the Chief Scientific Officer of Floriculture Division of BARI & Principal Investigator (Component-1) of the project Dr. Kabita Anju-Man-Ara, Professor of Horticulture Department of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Principal Investigator (Component-2) of the project Dr. Abul Hasnat M Solaiman and Scientific Officer of BARI`s Pomology Division and Principal Investigator (Component-3) of the project Monirul Islam.
Speakers at the workshop said that there is a huge opportunity to cultivate different types of horticultural crops including flowers, fruits and vegetables in open spaces and on rooftops in urban areas of Bangladesh. As a result, people will be able to eat their own crops. Besides, the overall economic development of the country will improve. It will also play a special role to protect the environment. It is also possible to reduce the temperature by a few degrees by gardening in open space and rooftop in urban areas. Many people are having roof garden but it is not working properly due to lack of proper management. The main objective of this project is to identify these problems and provide proper guidance.