SYLHET, Feb 06: A total of 7773.521 tonnes of high yielding varieties of seeds were supplied through Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to the farmers in Sylhet division this season for farming of Boro paddy.
Contacted today, the acting joint Director of the BADC Seed, Sylhet region Suprio Pal told this correspondent there was a good demand of the HYV varieties this year.
The varieties include BR-14, BR-26, BRRI-Dhan 28, BRRI-Dhan 29, BRRI-Dhan-50, BRRI-Dhan 55, BRRI-Dhan 58, BRRI-Dhan 63, BRRI-Dhan 67 and BRRI-Dhan 74 etc the official said. Some seeds of hybrid variety SL 88 were also sold this season.
These were sold to the farmers through the dealers and sale centres in the four districts of the region.
The official said further there are 565 dealers of the BADC and four sale centres in the region. Of the total 1912.568 tonnes were sold in Sylhet, 672.135 tonnes in Moulvibazar, 1144.577 tonnes in Habiganj and highest 4044.241 tonnes in Sunamganj.
The supply was completed weeks ago, as the season is passing fast, the official added. However, a good number of well to do farmers are using their own seeds, preserved from last year's produce.
In the last year a total of 10,178 tonnes of seeds were supplied in the region. Asked about the fall in the seed sale, the official said many farmers are getting interested in hybrid varieties due to better yield.
Besides, about 2000 tonnes of seeds f high yielding varities were distributed free of cost in special assistance among the poor and marginal farmers after devastating and repeated floods, he added.
It may be stated here that the DAE has taken a programme to cultivate Boro paddy on a total of over 465,500 hectares of land in the region.
[email protected]
