Trainers' Training on Vegetable Seed Technology for Homestead Production System by Small Farmers Held

Inaugural Ceremony

The training programme began with the recitation form the Holy Quran at 9:00 am on 22 May 2008 held at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur through a simple inaugural function. Thirty one field level officers from FoSHoL-projects and progressive farmers took part in the training. The main objective of the training programme was to improve the capacity of selected officials of FoSHoL-NGOs (ActionAid, CARE and Practical Action), their partner NGOs and some resource farmers of FoSHoL-projects on vegetables seed production, processing and storage.

At the inaugural session, Dr. S. M Monowar Hossain, Consultant, FoSHoL-Coordination Project welcomed the participants and explained the objective of the training. This training was chaired by Dr. M A Hamid Miah, IRRI Liaison Scientist while Mr. Md Narsiruddin, Director (S&S), BARI, Mr. Md. Yusuf Mian, Director, Horticulture Research Centre, BARI remained present as Chief Guest and Special Guest, respectively. Dr. Nasiruddin stressed the need for more such training to improve the vegetable production system through the use of quality seeds. Mr. Yusuf Mian told that the vegetable seed technology is complex due to diversities and seasonality of vegetables. He told that both theoretical and practical training would be helpful. Dr. Hamid Miah urged the trainees to be more attentive and interactive during the training course as seed is the key input of crop production.

Training Sessions

In the training sessions participants learned about quality seed production, processing and storage techniques both theoretically and practically. Separate sessions and detailed discussions were made specifically on practical demonstration on germination test and purity analysis, seed production of radish and cauliflower, onion and chilli, gima kalmi, Indian spinach, amaranth, bottle gourd, pumpkin, bitter gourd, okra, long bean, brinjal and tomato; their pollination methods; practical identification of harmful insects, diseases and their control measures including IPM. The trainees were very attentive and actively participated in every lecture session and interacted with the resource persons. The discussions were very friendly and effective.

Closing Ceremony

At the concluding session on 23 rd May, 2008 , Mr. Harun-ur-Rashid, Director General, BARI advised the trainees to utilize the knowledge of training for themselves and disseminate that to others. Dr. Abedin enquired about the trainees' reaction regarding content, delivery and fruitfulness of such training. The reaction was positive but they requested him for regional level training and winter crop training involving at least two members of one male and other female from each family selected for training. Later DG, distributed the certificate to the trainees.