BSS, Rangpur :
Transplantation of seedlings of Boro rice has got momentum making farmers and farm-laborers busy braving the cold weather and Covid-19 pandemic in Rangpur agriculture region.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the government has taken ample steps to assist farmers to make the Boro rice farming program a success during the current Rabi season.
“The DAE has fixed a target of producing 22,07,132 tonnes of clean Boro Paddy (33,10,698 tonnes of paddy) from 5,03,550 hectares of land for the region this season,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Mahbubur Rahman said.
The government through the DAE and other agriculture-related organizations and institutions is providing the latest technologies to farmers to further increase rice production at reduced costs.
Meanwhile, farmers have prepared Boro rice seedbeds on 27,116 hectares of land exceeding the fixed target of preparing the same on 23,090 hectares of land by 17.44 percent till Monday in the region.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Power Development Board, Northern Electricity Supply Company Limited and Rural Electrification Board are ensuring smooth supply of quality seeds, fertilizers and electricity to farmers.
“We are motivating farmers to adopt conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method in farming Boro rice to save water and increase rice output at reduced cost,” Rahman said.
Farmers have already transplanted Boro rice seedlings on some 80,000 hectares of land, 15.88 percent against the fixed farming target till Monday.
“The DAE with other related organizations, Power Development Board and Rural Electrification Board are ensuring smooth supply of seeds, fertilizers and electricity to farmers to ensure smooth Boro rice cultivation this season,” Rahman said.
Farmers are expected to exceed the fixed Boro rice farming target in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts of the region this season.
“As a result of conducting huge motivational activities, farmers are adopting CA-based technologies while farming Boro rice to save irrigation water for increasing rice output at reduced cost,” Rahman added.
BSS from Panchagarh reports: Farmers in the district have started Boro cultivation in all five upazilas here during the current season with much enthusiasm. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said 46,000 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation in all five upazilas of the district with the production target of 3,27,000 tonnes of fresh Boro rice. Earlier, the Department of Agriculture extension (DAE) of Panchagarh distributed high yielding Boro seeds, fertilizers among the farmers at free of cost.
The department also has given training on modern technology to the farmers to achieve the production target.
Deputy Director of DAE Md Mizanur Rahman said the field level officers are monitoring the Boro field and giving necessary advice to the farmers to avert the pest attack on Boro field.
BSS from Jamalpur adds: Boro cultivation in the district is going on in full swing as the agriculture department has a target to bring over one lakh hectares of land under the cultivation during this season.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of Boro cultivation on 1,29,300 hectares of land with a production target of 5,69,063tonnes of rice in all the seven upazilas of the district.
Farmers of the district are busy cultivating Boro paddy on their land to achieve the fixed target this current Robi season. DAE office sources said farmers in the district have already planted
Boro on 19,395 hectares of land till today. The percentage of plantation is
15. Of the total target, DAE fixed high- breed variety on 47,000 hectares of land with a production target of 2,39,700 tonnes rice while High Yielding Variety on 82,000 hectares with a production target of 3,28,820 tonnes and local variety on 300 hectares of land with a production target of 543 tonnes rice. According to upazila wise break-up of land is as follows-34,670 hectares in Jamalpur Sadar, 18,508 hectares in Sarishabari, 20,497 hectares in Melandah, 16,616 hectares in Islampur, 9,127 hectares in Dewanganj, 16,604 hectares in Madarganj and 13,278 hectares in Bakshiganj upazila.
Additional Deputy Director of DAE Mohammad Sakhawatul Ikram said availability of Boro seedling and other agriculture inputs is expected to be achieved the cultivation target this year.
The Boro cultivation will continue till mid February, he added.
