Boro farming going on in full swing in Sylhet division

SYLHET, Jan 4: The farmers in different areas in all the 4 districts of Sylhet division are busy with preparing Boro seedbeds with a target to recouping the last year's devastating crop's loss, officials and farmers informed recently.

Already seedbeds on 27481 hectares had been prepared although the target was earlier set at 23,730 hectares, an official informed in line with a report prepared by the divisional office of the DAE, Sylhet.

However, it would be increased in days as there is at least another week or 2 is there for the job, informed the DAE Deputy Director, Dr Mamun Ur Rashid.

The achieved area includes 4,113 hectares of hybrid, 21,692 hectares of high yielding varieties and the rest 1676 hectares of the local varieties, he informed referring the district level reports.

Meanwhile the DAE had set the Boro farming target on 475, 389 hectares in the region. It includes 81,056 hectares in Sylhet, 52,711 hectares in Moulvibazar, 1,19,070 hectares in Habiganj and the highest 222,552 hectares in the district of Sunamganj.

However, the crop has already been cultivated on 99,835 hectares in these districts, the official informed further, it is 21 per cent of the target. Same day in last year it was 98,837 hectares.

The rising trend of farming area of the major crop proves the farmers would try achieving the highest yield this season, the official added.

Farmer Abdul Bari at village Turukbag in Golapganj upazila said, "We are busy readying the wetlands for the Boro farming."

However, it would be completed in a fortnight maximum, he added.

The delay is due to late recession of waters form some areas.

Same is the situation in many areas of other districts, Dr. Mamun added.

During the last year's Boro crop was almost totally devastated by the repeated and early floods and excess rains coupled with rolling down of waters from the upstream in the Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam.

With a target to recoup the losses the government this year provided assistance in seed, fertiliser and cash for over 40,5000 listed poor and marginal farmers this year in this region.

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