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At a glance

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) is the largest agricultural research institute in the country. BARI currently researches 211 crops (excluding rice, jute, sugarcane, tea, wheat and maize). It is a research institute under the Ministry of Agriculture. Regional Agricultural Research, Station, Hathazari, Chittagram is one of BARI's eight Regional Agricultural Research Stations across the country. It represents Chattagram, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Lakshipur and Feni districts of Chattogram region. The station falls under Agro-ecological zone (AEZ) 23-Chittagong Coastal Plain. However, AZ 29-Eastern Hills are also under the scope of its study. It was established in 1956 as a seed multiplication farm which was attained perfection as a Regional Agricultural Research Station in 1976. Ever since its inception, it has become popularly known as 'Hatazari Agricultural (Krshi) Farm'.

It is situated about 22 km from Muradpur of Chattogram city and 1 km from Hathajari Bazaar in the west. The research station is located in the western part of eye-catching covering an area of 62.75 hectares (about 155 acres). There are various fruit orchards and research plots. The center has six ponds and an attractive lake for irrigation facilities. The research center basically identifies the agricultural problems of the region and carries out research activities according to the needs of the farmers. The station conducts research on applied, practical, socio-economic and marketing aspects of various fruits, vegetables, tuber crops, spices, pulses and oilseeds, flowers and pulses. There is a modern laboratory of plant pathology where research is being conducted on the effective control of crop diseases by means of beneficial bacteria (Novel Bacillus). Among the various activities of the research center are collection, evaluation and conservation of crop germplasm; Innovating crop varieties and production technologies; Crop management and pest control; Soil, Water and Irrigation Management; Irrigation Management and Agricultural Mechanization and Socio-economic and marketing research activities are conducted on various crops. There are mother-orchard of BARI developed perennial varieties where disease free quality propagules are collected. There is a modern nursery where seedlings, sapling of various high yielding varieties developed by BARI are produced. Breeder seeds of various crops under research are produced at the station. Apart from production, the station has well organized distribution and sale of seeds, saplings, cuttings etc.

One of the tasks of this station is to provide training and technical advice to farmers and various stakeholders related to agriculture on new agricultural technologies. To make the developed technologies acceptable to the farmers, adaptive trials are conducted at the field level under the supervision of the station and field days are organized. Various publications based on research results are regularly published in national and international journals. One of the functions of the center is to undertake and implement research and development projects. The research station has seven research division such as Horticulture, Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Economics. In addition there is an ICT branch. The Chief Scientific Officer coordinates the activities of the divisions as the controlling officer (Head of Office). There are currently 8 scientists working in the research station against the total 24 posts of scientists. As against 9 scientific assistants, 8 are currently working. And against 120 regular-irregular labours there are 68 labours. In order to strengthen the research activities of the station, it is essential to recruit the necessary scientists/manpower.

The agriculture of Chittagong region has an important contribution to the national economy. With large sea ports, land ports and airports, the region has many opportunities to export quality agricultural products. Agriculture in this diverse region has immense potential. Karnaphuli, Muhuri, Feni, Halda, Sangu, Matamhuri, Bakkhali and Ichamati rivers enrich the agriculture of the region. Low crop productivity, land topography, irrigation problems, attack of crop pests and diseases, lack of post-harvest knowledge, untimely rains, floods, droughts, water-logging, salinity, cyclones and natural disasters, reduction of agricultural land due to urbanization, excess of uncultivated land, inadequate agricultural mechanization, weak market structure and lack of proper market management are some of the problems of the agricultural sector in this region. Therefore, the importance of the research station in the socio-economic development of the region is immense.