Farmers eye bumper harvest

OUR CORRESPONDENT

CHANDPUR, Feb 11: Paddy cultivation has started for the first time on the riverbanks in Hajiganj and Faridganj upazilas of the district, creating a new hope among farmers.

On agriculture officers' instructions, about 50/60 farmers have planted B-28 and 29 varieties of Irri-Boro seeds on over 100 acres land on the riverbanks.

The Dakatia River flows in a zigzag way silently through Chandpur Sadar, Faridganj, Hajiganj and Shahrasti upazilas of the district.

Every year, a vast tract of agri land on both riverbanks of the river remains uncultivated.

The agriculture office in Hajiganj said around 6,000 tonnes of paddy is expected to be harvested this season, if the weather remains favourable till the May-June period.

Since a long time, the riverbanks were uncultivated and natural calamities caused much damage to the standing ripe crops.

Farmers Humayun Mia, Billal Hossain, Ruhul Amin, Mohibullah, Javed Hossain and Omar Ali have come forward and prepared lands for paddy on the riverbanks.

Now, they expect a bumper crop production as there is no pest attack or disease and weather remains favorable.

Agriculture officer Dilruba Khanam told the FE, "We extended necessary advice and cooperation to the farmers cultivating paddy crops on the Prime Minister's advice.''

"We are encouraging all farmers to bring every inch of agri land under cultivation to achieve food autarky."

On February 3, 2024, Chandpur Sadar Agri Office in collaboration with local Raj Rajeswar UP Chairman Hajrat Ali, held a 'Krishak Shomabesh' at Goyalnagar village to motivate farmers to bring fallow lands in Char areas under cultivation of crops, vegetables and fruits.

Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Hasan was present in the programme as the chief guest. Dr Shafayet Ahammad Siddiqui, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension, presided over the meeting.

The DC has assured them of extending necessary support so that not an inch of agri land remains uncultivated.

According to the DAE, a total of 11,951 hectares of agriculture lands has remained fallow for years in 30 char areas on the vast riverbanks of the Meghna-Padma in the district.

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