SYLHET, Feb 09: Farmers in different areas in the four districts of Sylhet division are busy on the fields as the Boro paddy cultivation is nearing to complete in Sylhet region.
A total of 445,328 hectares of land had so far been brought under its farming in the division, officials and farmers informed this afternoon. It is about 95 per cent of the season's target, set by the DAE.
The cultivated area includes 275,471 hectares on the haor region and the rest 169,857 hectares are in non-haor region.
DAE's Deputy Director, at the Sylhet divisional office Mazumder Md, Ilias told this correspondent the weather pattern till date is good for the crop.
The common farmers are passing busy time on their fields, mainly on the lower region like Sunamganj and Habiganj. Many farmers on other areas would continue that at the last days of the season this month.
The Boro farming would be increased this season in the four districts, the official said. Seedbeds had been set on a total of 26,100 hectares although the target was 21,945 hectares.
The cultivated area includes 86,249 hectares of hybrid, 346,362 hectares of high yielding varieties and 12,717hectares of local varieties, the official added.
The DAE had earlier set the farming target on 468,557 hectares in the region, including 79,709 hectares in Sylhet, 53,116 hectares in Moulvibazar, 118,197 hectares in Habiganj and highest 217,535 hectares in the district of Sunamganj.
Farmer Abdul Hasib of village Baushi under Golapganj upazila of Sylhet said we had collected seedlings and transplanted last week.
A good number of farmers in many areas of Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj were busy for readying Boro paddy land while some were delaying the job due to late recession of waters from crop lands on lower region.
Weeks ago the government through DAE had distributed assistance for a total of 9200 selected poor farmers this season in the division with a total expenditure of Tk 9223,000. The inputs include seed, fertiliser and other expenses.
However, farmers on many areas are in great worry as they will not be able to cultivate the crop this season due to accumulation of silts on many haors in the Sunamganj and Habiganj districts and shortage of water for lands.
They need water for those lands for the main crop of the season. In some areas there has been shortage of labourers, too.
Our correspondent from Tangail adds: Farmers of the twelve upazilas of the district are busy in cultivating Boro paddy on their croplands as weather condition is excellent in the area.
In the current season Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Tangail had set a Boro farming target on 1,70,623 hectares of land in the district with the production target 7,17,760 tons of rice.
Among the total cultivation target of the district hybrid variety will be grown on 2,661 hectares of land, Upshi variety on 1,67,062 hectares and local variety on 900 hectares of land, DAE officials sources said.
Sources also informed that 75 per cent of land has been prepared for plantation and plantation on 50 per cent of land has already been completed till Monday last.
Sub assistant DAE, Tangail Nargis Akhtar said field level officer and expert of the office and other agriculture related organisations and institutions are providing necessary assistance to the farmers to make the Boro farming programme a success in the current season.
Hyder Miah (55), son of Intaj Miah, a farmer of Gomjani under Delduar upazila of the district told to The Financial express that he cultivated BR 29 on his two bighas of land during this season. Smooth supply of water and agro-inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides has boosted the cultivation, he said.
Last few years price of rice was low, which made growers dishearten, they were suffering to return back their investment. But at present market situation is different, it is showing better price than before. In the recent year due to increased rice price the local farmers showing keen interest in farming of the paddy in a large scale again, local sources informed.
During the recent visit to several area of the district, The Financial Express found that the farmers of the area are working on their croplands round the clock. On one hand they preparing their lands and on the other hand transplanting Boro plants.
Deputy Director of DAE Tangail Abdur Razzaque said the government has taken different steps to ensure smooth supply of fertiliser, insecticide, electricity and provide technologies making the Boro farming programme successful in the district.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
