Boro cultivation gathers pace in Gopalganj

FE Team | Published: January 20, 2025 21:03:44

Our Correspondent
GOPALGANJ, Jan 20: The farmers of the district are passing a very busy time to cultivate boro paddy with a high production target this season.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Gopalganj, a total of 81,663 hectares of land have been brought into boro cultivation here this year.
The boro production target has been fixed at 612,472 tonnes amid the high rice prices, sources said.
As many as 20,960 hectares of land have been brought into boro farming in Gopalganj Sadar upazila, 13,625 hectares in Muksudpur upazila, 11,882 hectares in Kasiani upazila, 26,619 hectares in Kotalipara and 8,577 hectares in Tungipara upazila.
Boro paddy's maximum origin is hybrid and HYV (upashi), official sources said.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Agriculture Department Corporation (BADC) has distributed 162 tonnes of high quality boro seeds of SL8H, BRRI Dhan-102 and BRRI Dhan-104 among farmers.
Tapon Biswas (58), a farmer of village Debgram under Kotalipara upazila, said he has cultivated 'SL8H' (hybrid) boro variety on two acres (200 decimal) of land this year.
Dolon Roy, agriculture officer in Kotalipara, told the FE that nearly 45 per cent of boro cultivation has been completed in Kotalipara.
Binnamin Mandal (52), a boro farmer of Mandra under Kusla union of Kotalipara, said he has cultivated Boro variety of 'BARI Dhan-102' on 3.50 acres of land this year.
But, boro seed prices are higher this year and labour price is too much higher, he said, adding: "If weather remains favourable, I will get good profits from Boro cultivation."
Milon Sheikh (46), another farmer of Chorkhulia village under Kusla union of Kotalipara, said he has cultivated 'BRRI Dhan-104' on three acres (300 decimals) of land this year.
"If weather remains favourable, I will get 240 maunds of paddy, which market price is about Tk 348,000 and production cost is Tk 135,000," he said.
Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director at the DAE in Gopalganj, told the FE that they distributed 80 tonnes of 'SL8H' and 'Babylon' boro seeds among 40,000 farmers under five upazilas in the district.
So far, a total of 58 per cent of boro paddy farming has already been completed.
About 188,788 farmers are engaged in the boro farming this year, he added.