Bumper Boro harvest in country likely

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Farmers are harvesting a bumper Boro paddy across the country while Agriculture Extension officials who have links with the field are hopeful of an yield of 20 million tonnes in terms of rice exceeding the target set at 18.65 million tonnes, reports UNB. The record production has been possible due to favourable weather, timely rain and availability of inputs, viewed the farmers and upazila level agriculture officials. The Agriculture Ministry officials said the Boro production this year will exceed the target and likely to touch 20 million tonnes in terms of rice. The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) had earlier set the boro target at 18.65 million tonnes. It now expects a higher production as a number of areas brought under cultivation has exceeded the target. "The DAE had earlier set a target to bring some 4.78 million hectares of land under Boro cultivation. But Boro was finally cultivated in more areas - 4.8 million hectares," Agriculture Information Service (AIS) Director Nazrul Islam told the news agency. He said that the country achieved a Boro production of 1.85 billion tonnes in the last season as some 4.78 million hectares of land were brought under cultivation. He said that in the current season, harvest of high yielding variety BR-29 and BR-50 was very good except in some case of 'Jhalak'. The weather was favourable and proper use of fertiliser was ensured. Nazrul Islam said that ideal seed-bed, healthy seedlings, use of balanced fertiliser, smooth irrigation facilities, timely availability of fertiliser, management and disbursement of agricultural credit, power supply for irrigation and overall favourable weather have helped to exceed production target. The Agriculture Ministry officials said that supply of quality seeds was ensured to the farmers to promote the Boro cultivation this year. Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) supplied improved quality seeds to the farmers. The farmers also got fertilisers at subsidised prices as well as irrigation equipment along with smooth supply of diesel. Besides, the weather especially the early monsoon acted like an additional irrigation during plantation and growth as well. The DAE officials expressed the hope that the average per hectare yield of Boro paddy might be higher than the target of 2.45 tonnes. Agriculture expert Dr. Mahabub Hossain told the news agency that the cultivable area of Boro had increased as the farmers got good price of the crop last season. The farmers in some cases diverted to Boro cultivation in the current season not going for other crops, said Dr Mahboob. He said the Boro yield in the current season may see a growth of 8 to 10 per cent compared to the last year. "The season was good and there was rain in the March-April period. Besides, there was no problem for irrigation." The BRAC executive director expressed the hope that there was a possibility to have a Boro output of 20 million tonnes in the current season. Dr Mahabub, however, said the price of Boro rice may come down if the imported rice and farmers' rice entered market at the same time.