BSS, Gaibandha :
Harvest of Boro paddy, one of the high value crops, has been continuing in the district since April with much enthusiasm and festivity to the farmers as expecting bumper production.
Office sources said the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) set a target to farm Boro paddy on 1,27,740 hectares of land with the production target of 521,789 tonnes of clean rice this season.
Later, the target fixed by the department was exceeded and it stood to 1,31,200 hectares bringing more 3460 hectares of land under the farming, sources said.
Of them, some 21,175 hectares were brought under the farming in Sadar upazila, 15,970 in Sadullapur upazila, 13,490 in Palashbari upazila, 31,425 in Gobindaganj upazila, 25,820 in Sundarganj upazila, 15,250 in Shaghata upazila, and 8070 in Fulchhari upazila.
At present, most of the paddy fields have taken an eye-catching look as the varieties of paddy have ripened.
The farmers are harvesting the early varieties of the Boro paddy amid festivity with a hope of getting good yield.
Showkat Osman, district training officer of DAE, said the farmers farmed the irrigation dependent Boro paddy in the district successfully. Bangladesh Barind Development Authority, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Cooperation, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board ensured supply of seed, fertilizers and electricity to the growers to boost production of Boro paddy.
Besides, the agri-officials particularly the field level sub assistant agriculture officers provided the farmers with the latest agri technologies to increase the Boro paddy production side by side with imparting them with need base training on how to apply the technologies practically in the paddy field to get desired output, he added. Deputy Director of DAE SM Ferdous told the BSS 35 percent harvest had already been completed till May 10.
BSS from Manikganj reports: Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Md. Asiruzzaman formally inaugurated harvesting of Bri Dhan-89 and Bri Dhan-81 day (Monday) as chief guest at Bhatbaoir village under Dighi Union of Manikganj Sadar Upazila of the district.
Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir, Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), S M Ferdous, Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj and Md Habibur Rahman Chowdhury Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agriculture Extension, among others, were present in the function with Dr Md Abdul Muid, Dhaka Regional Director (Confines Wing) in the chair.
The agriculture secretary said, “Bri-89 and Bri-81Dhan are high yielding rice. Growers are benefiting more for cultivation of this variety of paddy.”
The government has provided all necessary supports including distributing agri-inputs among the farmers, he said adding farmers are happy with bumper Boro production in the district.
BSS from Panchagarh adds: Farmers of Panchagarh district are expecting bumper production of Boro as a result of favourable weather condition throughout the season.
Supply of agricultural components such as seeds, fertilizer and pesticide in due time and affordable price also supplemented in good yielding this year.
DAE sources said, 80 percent deep tube wells and shallow pumps were engaged this year for irrigation by using electricity while rest of others used diesel.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) deputy director Md Ali told BSS that this year’s target of cultivating Boro in 38,000 hectares of land with production target of 1,51,308 metric tonnes.
Bipul Chandra, a farmer of Shahapara village under Debiganj upazila said he cultivated Boro in one acre of land where the plants are growing excellently.
