Sylhet farmers busy preparing Boro seedbeds for bumper production

SYLHET, Dec 24: Farmers in different areas of Sylhet division are busy with preparing Boro seedbeds with an expectation to get a bumper production of the crop this season, officials and farmers informed on Sunday.

According to a report prepared by the divisional office of the DAE, Sylhet already seedbeds on 26,990 hectares had been prepared although the target was earlier set at 23,730 hectares.

However, it would be increased as there is at least another week or two is there for the job, informed DAE deputy director Dr Mamun Ur Rashid. The achieved area includes 4,103 hectares of hybrid, 21,215 hectares of high yielding varieties and the rest 1671 hectares of the local varieties, he informed referring the said report.

Meanwhile, the DAE set Boro farming target on 475, 389 hectares in the region. It includes 81056 hectares in Sylhet, 52,711 hectares in Moulvibazar, 119,070 hectares in Habiganj and the highest 222,552 hectares in the district of Sunamganj.

However, the crop has already been cultivated on 16,523 hectares in these districts, the official informed further, same day last year it was 9,290 hectares. The rising trend of farming area of the major crop proves the farmers would try achieving the highest yield this season.

Farmer Sobur Ahmed at village Bagha in Golapganj upazila said yesterday yet we are busy readying the wetlands for the Boro farming. However, it would be done in a week or two maximum, he added, the delay is due to late recession of waters form some areas.

Same is the situation in many areas of Sunamganj district, the senior official said.

During the last year's Boro crop was devastated by the repeated and early floods and excess rains coupled with rolling down of waters from the upstream in the Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam.

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