94 per cent Boro transplantation completed in northern region

RANGPUR, Mar 5 (BSS): The farmers have already completed transplantation of Boro seedlings on 94 per cent of targeted land area in the northern region as the process is nearing completion, officials in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said.
"The fixed cultivation target of Boro crop during this Rabi season is expected to be achieved within the next week and the tender Boro plants are growing excellent amid favourable climatic conditions," Horticulture Specialist Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam of the DAE said.
According to the DAE sources, farmers have already completed transplantation of Boro seedlings on 1.51 million hectares of land, which is over 94 per cent of the fixed target of bringing 1.60 million a hectares land under Boro cultivation this time in the region.
Meanwhile, the Boro fields, transplanted earlier on the low-lying lands in the 'beels', 'haors', char areas and dried-up river beds, are growing excellent wearing eye-catching looks now as the farmers will harvest those before the next rainy season begins.
According to the DAE sources, nearly six lakh irrigation pumps including power and diesel driven deep tube wells, shallow tube wells and low lift pumps have been operating in the region now for irrigating the Boro fields at this peak hour.
According to officials of the concerned agriculture related departments, organisations and power development board, there is no problem with the supply of diesel, power or fertilisers anywhere following adequate steps taken by the present government.
Associate Director (Agriculture) of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr M A Mazid predicted a bumper Boro production this season following favourable climatic conditions and adequate steps taken by the government towards the directions.
He suggested the farmers to adopt the latest agriculture technologies including alternate wetting and drying method for irrigation to increase rice production at reduced costs side by side saving he quantities of underground water, diesel and electricity.
According to the DAE sources, the government has fixed an all-time record nationwide target of producing 18.9 million tonnes clean Boro rice from 4.78 million hectares of land in all 64 districts during this Rabi season.
Under the programme, a target of producing 6.40 million tonnes of Boro rice from 1.609 million hectares of land, 33.87 per cent of the fixed national production target, has been fixed for the northern region for the current Rabi season, the sources said.
Deputy Directors of the DAE Feroz Ahmed told BSS that the farmers will achieve the fixed Boro farming target this season and adequate steps have been taken for enhancing Boro rice production at lower costs adopting the latest technologies.