Robust harvest in \\\'haor\\\' region showing prospects of bumper Boro production

Yasir Wardad | Published: April 11, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

A robust harvest in the 'haor' region is showing prospects of another bumper output during the ongoing Boro season.
Harvesting has started in a few parts of the 'haor' region which add nearly 7.0 per cent to the total Boro yield, officials said.
The acreage of Boro across the country this season has increased by 20,000 hectares to 4.8 million hectares from 4.78 million hectares of the last season, officials at the Field Service Wing (FSW) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said.
"Last year farmers got a profitable price which caused increase in the acreage," FSW Deputy Director Rafiqul Hasan said.
However, a robust production in the 'haor' region this year will enhance the production and we are hopeful of another bumper yield, he added.
Meanwhile, the production from Boro season was 18.759 million tonnes last year, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
This year the ministry of agriculture (MoA) fixed the target at 18.9 million tonnes from 4.8 million hectares of lands, MoA officials said.
According to DAE Sylhet and Mymensingh regional offices, this year Boro cultivation has increased by 10 per cent to 0.407 million hectares in the 'haor' areas - parts of Sunamganj, Hobiganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Netrakona and Kishoreganj districts.
It is nearly 8.5 per cent of the country's total Boro acreage of 4.8 million hectares this year, according to the officials.
The officials also expect that the total production from the 'haor' areas will surpass 1.4 million tonnes, up from 1.3 million tonnes last year.
"To protect Boro crop from sudden flash floods, the 'haor' peasantry has appropriated early farming that made the beginning of harvest in April and ending it by middle of May possible," Deputy Director of DAE, Moulvibazar district Dr SM Afsaruzzaman said.
He said only 5.0 per cent harvest has been completed in the 'haor' areas (parts of Sylhet region) by April 08 and the farmers have been advised to harvest the crop as soon as possible to avoid any deluge.
Additional Director at DAE Mymensingh Region Md Aminul Islam said harvesting has started in parts of Mithamoin and Itna upazilas of Kishoreganj district.
"We are expecting a yield of 4.0 tonnes of rice per hectare this year thanks to favourable weather," he said.
Meanwhile, experts said ensuring fare price of the produce is now necessary to encourage the farmers to stay in farming in the Aus season.
Farm economist ASM Golam Hafiz Kennedy told the FE that there is no alternative to ensuring profitable price of the crops to strengthen the rural economy.
Kennedy, who teaches agricultural finance in the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), said production cost has surged significantly in 'haor' region due to use of deep tube-well water.
He said the government should buy a handsome amount of rice from the 'haor' farmers under its procurement drive to help them make sufficient profit.
He mentioned that farmers in the 'haor' areas incurred losses last year when rest of the farmers in the country made a minimum profit.