SYLHET, Nov 15: The government has sanctioned about Tk 1.04 billion (103 crores 78 lakh) for the crop protection schemes including embankments in the greater Sylhet region.
It includes Tk 38.8 million (3.88 crores) for Sylhet, Tk 6.8 million (68 lakh) for Moulvibazar, Tk 42.2 million (4.22 crores) for Habiganj and Tk 950 million (95 crores) for Sunamganj.
Last year, a total of Tk 1.64 billion (164 crores) was spent for such schemes in the region. It include Tk 1.55 billion (155 crores) for 1078 schemes in Sunamganj alone.
However, the Water Development Board (WDB) has started field survey for the proposed schemes for various structures including repair and reconstruction of embankments and others in over a hundred haors of Boro producing areas.
When contacted the chief engineer of WDB of North East region Khushi Mohan Sarker said, "Our teams have already started field survey for the proposed schemes for protecting Boro crops from calamities".
He further said, "Hopefully, it will be completed by the end of this month". "Then the Project Implementation Committees (PIC) would be constituted with the farmers' representative, government officials, etc", he added.
Works will start through the PICs from December 15, the official said, the scheme wise PICs are responsible for the works. As per government directive, the deputy commissioner heads the district committee and the WDB executive engineer serves as member-secretary of the committees to oversee those.
Normally, the farmers start preparing seedbeds by mid-November and it takes about four weeks for getting the plants ready for transplantation. It varies for weeks considering seed varieties and land conditions.
According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), most of the farmers are ready with seeds, but cannot make the seedbeds in many areas due to delay in water recession. The target has been set at 493,970 hectares for Boro farming in the region, including the highest 223,245 hectares in Sunamganj, in Moulvibazar 61,050 hectares, 122,825 hectares in Habiganj while 85,850 hectares in Sylhet district.
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