Boro cultivation going on in full swing in Sylhet div

Our Correspondent
SYLHET, Jan 13: The farmers in different areas in all the four districts of Sylhet division are busy in Boro paddy cultivation with a target to recouping the last year's devastating crop loss same season, officials and farmers informed.
According to a report prepared by the divisional office of the DAE, so far Boro seedbeds on 27,500 hectares had been prepared.
However, it would be increased in a week as there is some time for the job, said the DAE Deputy Director, Dr. Mamun Ur Rashid today. The achieved area includes 4,113 hectares of hybrid, 21,692 hectares of high yielding varieties and the rest 1676 hectares of the local varieties, he informed referring the district level reports.
The DAE had earlier set the Boro farming target on 475, 389 hectares in the region. It includes 81056 hectares in Sylhet, 52711 hectares in Moulvibazar, 119,0 70 hectares in Habiganj and highest 222,552 hectares in the district of Sunamganj.
However, the crop has already been cultivated on 212,981 hectares in these districts, the official informed further, it is 45 per cent of the target. Same day last year it was 218,557 hectares. Since there is a rising trend of farming area of the major crop, it proves the farmers would try achieving the highest yield this season, the official said further.
Of the total area cultivated so far, 157,677 hectares are in the haor areas and 55,304 hectares are in the non-haor plain land areas.
Farmer Olid Mia at Nolua village under Golapganj upazila said, "Yet we are busy readying the wetlands for the Boro. However, it would be completed in a week. Late recession of waters was the main reason for the delay.
But, farmers in many areas of Sunamganj and Habiganj are suffering due to late recession of waters from crop lands, the officials noted.
During the last year's Boro crop was almost totally 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.
With a target to recoup the losses the government this year provided assistance in seeds, fertilisers and cash for over 40,5000 listed poor and marginal farmers this year in this region.
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