GAIBANDHA, May 22 (BSS): Harvest of Boro paddy is nearly complete in seven upazilas of the district in the current season with much enthusiasm of farmers.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said farmers of the district cultivated Boro paddy on a total of 1, 25,325 hectares this year with the production target of 5,04,425 tonnes of rice.
Of the total, some 19,630 hectares of land were brought under the cultivation programme in Sadar Upazila, 14,925 in Sadullapur Upazila, 12,775 in Palashbari Upazila, 30,550 in Gobindaganj Upazila, 24,100 in Sundarganj Upazila, 15,050 in Shaghata Upazila and 8,295 in Fulchhari Upazila.
Farmers of the district are expecting bumper production of Boro this year as they are getting at least 22-24 maunds of paddy from a bigha of land.
Favourable climatic condition, proper distribution of high quality seed of BADC and BMDA and timely supply of electricity, fertilizers and other agri inputs to the growers were the main reasons behind the expectation, said the growers.
To make the cultivation programme a grand success and to bring all arable land under this programme, the commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank disbursed soft loan to the poor and marginal farmers during the season.
While visiting some areas of the district the correspondent found that harvesting of early varieties of Boro paddy particularly BRRI-28 had almost been completed and the harvest of other varieties was near completion.
Talking to the BSS DAE deputy director of DAE Mir Abdur Razzak said 85 percent of Boro paddy had already been harvested and it will continue until May 31.
