The photograph of bitter gourd plants grown in the traffic island in a part of Dhaka city is indeed heartening. It is an innovative step, which can be replicated in the other areas of the city. It also illustrates the truth that we as a nation at times tend to disregard that however much we are constrained with the problem of space, maximum utilisation of the existing resources can come with the flag of rescue.
We understand that there are legalities as to whether private individuals should be allowed to plant seeds in what is essentially government-owned land and, __more importantly, who is going to own the produce. Once a favourable decision is made, we believe, the operational details can be sorted out. At the heart of this should lie the intention of utilising every nook and cranny of the city that would have otherwise remained unutilised. Provided that they are grown with philanthropy in mind, the poor and the homeless in the city can share the fruit and vegetables among themselves.
We must not forget that Bangladesh, burdened with the challenge of overpopulation and rapid industrialisation, has witnessed its arable land shrink at an alarming speed. In this light, we urge the authorities to encourage the maximum utilisation of arable land and water bodies for the rainy day, especially those that remain unused in the country. The advent of modern scientific innovations has opened the door to an array of new possibilities in the field of agriculture. There is no reason why we should exclude ourselves from their benefits. We believe that the authorities should sensitise the general public about these new modes of cultivation.