RANGPUR, Dec 18 (BSS): The farmers have been taking preparations with huge enthusiasm to start transplantation of Boro seedlings from January next in the northern region, officials in the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said.
Meanwhile, they have already started transplantation Boro seedling in the low-lying lands, beels, haors flood-prone and riverine areas to complete harvest before commencement of the next rainy season.
Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khondker Md. Mesbahul Islam said the farmers have been continuing preparation of Boro seedbeds to begin transplantation in full swing in the main land from middle of January next.
According to the DAE sources, the government has fixed a record target of producing over 18.9 million tonnes of clean Boro rice from 0.47 million hectares of land in the country during the current season.
The government through the DAE and concerned agriculture-related departments and organisations has been providing all necessary assistance to the farmers in making the fixed Boro cultivation programme successful.
Under the programme, 3.16 million tonnes of hybrid variety Boro rice will be produced from 0.67 million hectares land, 15.71 million tonnes high yielding variety rice from 4.06 million hectares and 10,300 tonnes of local variety Boro rice from 5,000 hectares land this season.
The government, however, has fixed a target of producing over 6.36 million tonne of Boro rice, 33.56 per cent of the fixed national production target, for the northern region, commonly known as the country's food granary, this season,
The farmers will bring over 1.59 million hectares land under Boro cultivation in the northern region to attain the fixed farming target and they have already started preparing seedbeds of Boro rice in full swing everywhere.
Of them, over 1.06 million tonnes hybrid Boro rice will be produced from more than 0.22 million hectares land, 5.28 million tonnes high yielding variety rice from over 13.65 hectares and 21,813 tonnes local variety rice from 10,589 hectares land in the northern region.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities, Teesta Barrage Project and other organisations have taken steps to make Boro cultivation programme successful.
Rangpur Regional Acting Additional Director of the DAE Zulfiquer Haider said comprehensive and well- coordinated steps have been taken for delivering of the latest technologies to the farmers for enhancing Boro rice production at lower costs.
