Boro yield exceeds target in Narail

NARAIL, May 24 (BSS): Boro paddy production in three Upazilas of Narail has exceeded target this year due to the favourable climatic condition and timely supply of quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. The Boro yield in Sadar, Kalia and Lohagora Upazilas of the district exceeded the production target of 1,70,878 metric tonnes set by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). The DAE office in Narail earmarked 40,417 hectares of land for Boro cultivation, but the farmers have cultivated the crop on 42,350 hectares of land and expected a yield of 1,80,000 tonnes of paddy. Abdul Aziz, deputy director of DAE Narail office, told the news agency the bumper yield was possible as all agricultural inputs were supplied timely to the farmers and the weather also favoured them. "We have supplied seeds of high yielding varieties of paddy such as hybrid Hira, BIRI-28, BIRI-29, BIRI-33, BR-14, SL-8, Miniket, Ratna, super hybrid Moyna, Tia, Sathi, Tez and others to ensure paddy production of 7 to 8 metric tonnes per hectares," a DAE official said. While visiting different areas of Narail Sadar, Lohagora and Kalia Upazilas, this correspondent found the farmers in a jovial mood and the day labourers busy reaping paddy on different fields. The Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and other government and non-government banks had disbursed adequate crop loans to make the Boro cultivation a complete success in the district. The Agriculture Extension Department (AED) had fixed a target of 40,417 hectares of land for Boro cultivation with the production target of 1,70,878 tonnes of rice in the current season of Narail district. About 18,550 hectares of land were brought under Boro cultivation with production target of 77,845 tonnes in Sadar Upazila in Lohagora 9,667 hectares were cultivated with production target of 39,331 tonnes. In Kalia Upazila, 2,200 hectares of land were cultivated with the target to produce 53,702 tonnes of Boro rice.