Selim Reza: The one man agro think tank!
Being a development journalist for three decades, I've had the opportunity of meeting many dedicated officers who stand by local inhabitants and farmers. But today, I'll introduce you to a Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) of the Department of Agricultural Extension who really stands out amongst the lot. He's a very creative officer who is truly committed to the growth of rural farmers – his communication with them has to be seen with one's own eyes to be believed. Fourteen years back, he thought of building a pest diagnostic centre. Farmers would then be able to learn about unknown pest attacks as well as varied crop diseases, along with friendly and enemy insects. Now, at the Union Parishad building of Dulla Union, in Mymensingh's Muktagachha, he now has that centre. When he came here, the Chairman gave him a small room and then he built this centre gradually over time.
A small room, 12 by 12 feet, is a room of prospect and admiration. What is not here in this room? A place where samples of different plant diseases and the pests which affect the plants, are kept in bottles and a library as well. Collection of colourful butterflies, arrangement for measuring the quality of fertilizer and identifying adulterated ones. Agricultural learning and strategies- all takes place in this little room. All these initiatives are for farmers and for farming. A man who loved farming throughout his life, with all his dreams, hope and efforts, Selim Reza, one dynamic Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) among 13,224 others across the country.
After we met and exchanged greetings, the inevitable question popped up: Why this initiative and how did he manage to put it all together?
“I took the decision of starting a pest diagnostic centre. I started spending Tk. 200 from my salary every month. I could have taken a Tk. 50 lunch. Many people know, still I spend only Tk. 15 behind my lunch, eating yogurt and chira (flattened rice). I saved some and spent it behind the centre”, replied Selim and I started to feel even more honoured sitting right in front him. Some NGOs were interested and offered him to take some classes for an honourarium of Tk. 500. He invested that amount for the centre as well. This centre truly is the result of months and years of his love and passion.
Life cycle of plants, friendly and enemy insects - all these cycles circle around the life of Selim Reza. He can fluently name all the diseases and pests and attributes of the plants and pests. Every year, farmers use approximately 50,000 Mt. tons of pesticides, fungicides, miticides, weedicides, spending Tk. 50,000 crore collectively. Farmers are using these without having full knowledge and sometimes they are forced to do so. This is making the farming environment vulnerable, not to mention making the farming output and food vulnerable as well. But, with Selim Reza's farming solution centre, you can find answers to any question on crop disease or pest attack. “Farmers don't have much knowledge on pesticides. They don't know whether they should use miticide, pesticide or weedicide. They only look for quality seeds”, says Selim. “Farmers also come here with affected leaves”, added Selim. “They just show me the bottle and I can identify the disease and give the solution instantly matching both the leaves”, replied Selim. Everybody is concerned about the environment. Specially after using too much pesticide and adulterated fertilizer, soil is losing its fertility. IPM (Integrated Pest Management) is the best solution out of this scenario, according to Selim.
He has also collected local varieties of paddies. And he also has managed to collect all the rice varieties released from BRRI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute). With his effort and perseverance, he could master all the information on the characteristics of these varieties. Not only chemical fertilizers, he has developed a system here to measure the qualities of vermin-compost. Selim Reza has all the necessary farming related books in his library. He also has advanced agro-technology and machineries. He is continuing his experiments throughout the year.
“What inspired you to become who you are today?” I asked.
“I have been inspired by the farmers”, replied Selim. “Farmers can't express the problems they face and it was becoming tough to understand them. I started thinking of a different strategy to communicate and learn about their problems”, added Selim. Everyday farmers come to visit the pest diagnostic centre of Selim Reza. Beside attending to the farmers who come to the centre, he also makes field visits to reach out to the farmers. I had the luck to accompany him on such a visit.
“Selim Bhai, have a look on my mango flowers”, requested a farmer.
“This happens due to mango malformation. It's a fungal disease. You need to dig soil and put it under. Secondly, you have to dissolve five naphthalenes and then spray on your tree”, answered Selim.
“The papaya doesn't have a good shape, right?” asked Selim to another farmer.
“Yes”, replied another farmer.
“This only happens when the land is lacking boron”, adds Selim.
“If you can apply boron worth Tk. 5 on your plant, you'll get very good result”, solves Selim by giving a simple answer and the farmer is instantly overjoyed.
When farmers don't get any answers to their problems, they rush to Selim's centre and find solution to their problems and I was lucky to be a witness of the impact of Selim's great work.
Selim Reza is giving advice for free. It's a noble effort undoubtedly. This man has many features: he is an agro-scientist, extension officer, a think-tank of farming, pest attack specialist and above all, a farmer himself. Overall, he is a farming devotee. He's following his father's ideal and direction of passing a life of a committed human being. His father's words are most inspirational and powerful to him.
There are 13,224 SAAOs all around Bangladesh who are employed at 12,640 blocks. They were promoted to Second Class Government Officers in 2004. Among 4549 UPs, LGED has offices in 2584 UPs. In these buildings, SAAOs have a place to sit and do their job. But, nowhere in any UP room, is there such an enriched room like Selim's. There is no government allocation for such an initiative. This man is doing this with his efforts; this is his passion. And he is truly an inspiration.
There are many complaints against thousands of SAAOs who never visit farmlands. On the other hand, it's impossible for one SAAO to give service to 1,700 farm families. Then, what is the way-out for agricultural extension? How can they best serve farmers? I firmly believe, Selim Reza has been able to answer that vital question. Following the model of his agro-centre, in each union, other SAAOs can start their own information and technology hubs. More than thirteen thousand SAAOs can stand beside farmers just like Selim Reza, offering farmers a true helping hand and support, triggering an agricultural revolution in Bangladesh towards sustainable farming.
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