Boro harvest begins in Natore, Naogaon districts soon

NATORE, Apr 22: Farmers and the officials concerned are expecting a bumper Boro production during the current season.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Rafiqul Islam said harvest will begin within a few days.

A total of 78,000 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation of Boro rice in the district with the production target of 67,000 tonnes, the official further said.

Commercial banks including the Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) disbursed easy-term loans among the grassroots farmers to make the current Boro cultivation programme a success.

Harun-or-Rashid of Boraigram upazila said he is cultivating Boro rice on 15 bighas of land this season and was expecting a bumper yield.

Sub-assistance agriculture officer of DAE Azizur Rahman said growers cultivate Boro rice as it is considered as a cash crop.

"Government should take necessary steps so that Boro growers can get a fair price of their newly-harvested crop", the official added.

Our correspondent from Naogaon added: Boro growers in Patnitala upazila under the district are expecting a bumper production due to suitable soil and favourable weather condition.

The DAE sources said around 20,800 hectares of land have been brought under boro cultivation in all eleven unions of the upazila this season exceeding the official target of 20,220 hectares.

The cultivated varieties include- BRRI Dhan-28, 29, 50, 58, 59, 61, 63, BINA Dhan-14, Parija, Jirashail, Dhani Gold, Tej Gold and Hira-2.

Additional agriculture officer, Patnitala, Shapla Khatun informed the paddy has been matured in some areas and peasants will start harvesting the crop within next two weeks.

One Obaudullah Riyad said he is getting ready for the harvest days and expecting high yield and good price from the produce.

Executive engineer of Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), Naogaon-2 Abdul Malek Chowdhury said farmers are getting adequate irrigation facilities to make the cultivation programme successful.

Upazila DAE officer Mohaiminul Islam stated fertility of soil of the area helps boost the production.

Besides, farmers were given necessary training on using of right quantity fertilisers, insecticides and other inputs in the Boro field at the right time, he added.