Harvesting of Boro starts in Nilphamari

Our Correspondent NILPHAMARI, May 18: Harvesting of Boro paddy has started in Nilphamari district amid acute farm labour shortage. DAE sources said, this season's Boro cultivation target was in 77899 hectares of land to produce 320795 metric tonnes of paddy out of which hybrid variety in 25148 hectares to produce 119910 metric tonnes and Upshi in 52751 hectares of land to produce 200985 metric tonnes of paddy at an average production target of 4.80 metric tonnes per hectare. Sources added a bumper production of Boro paddy is expected this season. Farmers sources said there is an acute shortage of farm labour in the district as thousands of workers migrated to the districts of Rajshahi division for harvesting work, where harvesting of Boro started one month earlier. At present daily wage of a farm labourer varies from Tk. 250-300 in the district.