Sylhet peasants start farming Aus paddy

SYLHET, Apr 23: Farmers in the four districts of Sylhet division have started cultivating Aus paddy.

In line with the nationally-taken programme for raising Aus farming all over the country, the Sylhet region's coverage would have to be increased by 33,000 hectares this season, an official concerned informed.

Last year, a total of 172,000 hectares of land were brought under the farming of Aus paddy although the DAE's had a revised target of 174,824 hectares from its initial target in a bid to increasing the coverage area.

Deputy director at the DAE, Sylhet divisional office, Mozumder Md Ilias told this correspondent a targeted programme has been taken up to bring 205,000 hectares of land under Aus cultivation.

The total area includes 77,500 hectares in Sylhet, 56,000 hectares in Moulvibazar, 51,500 hectares in Habiganj and 20,000 hectares in Sunamganj district.

So far seedbeds have been set on 4,183 hectares of land in the division.

It includes, 3040 hectares in Sylhet, 805 hectares in Moulvibazar, 175 hectares in Habiganj and 163 hectares in Sunamganj.

Meanwhile, incentives worth Tk 55.16 million for the marginal farmers were being extended for Aus crop. In total of 63049 farmers in the division are getting it.

The total includes 22,881 in Sylhet, 17,000 in Moulvibazar, 15,500 in Habiganj and 7,668 in Sunamganj, the official added.

Distribution of incentives had already been going on at upazilas.

Besides, former education minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Tuesday handed over the incentives at a function at the Golapganj upazila council premises.

In total 1830 marginal farmers were given five kgs Aus seed and 25 kg fertiliser each, informed the upazila Agriculture Officer Khairul Amin.

Under the incentive programme the farmers are getting seed and fertiliser only. The district wise allocation stands at Tk 20087,500 for Sylhet, Tk 14875,000 for Moulvibazar, Tk 13562,500 for Habiganj and Tk 6709,500 for Sunamganj.

Each of the selected poor farmers were getting assistance for cultivating one bigha land, the official added, recipients in most of the upazilas were handed over the incentives while the rests would be done soon.

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