SYLHET, Dec 27: Boro paddy cultivation has started in all the four districts of Sylhet division as farmers began transplanting seedlings in the main cropland from seedbeds.
An official at the DAE Sylhet divisional office informed this correspondent on Thursday that already 54,256 hectares of land in four districts have been brought under the farming of the crop.
Growers in Sunamganj and Habiganj districts are happy over the present weather condition. They are now passing busy time in their fields.
The achieved area includes 5,187 hectares in Sylhet, 3,605 hectares in Moulvibazar, 20,290 hectares in Habiganj and 25,174 hectares in Sunamganj districts, the source said.
The DAE has set 468,557 hectares of land for Boro production for the region including 79,709 hectares in Sylhet, 53,116 hectares in Moulvibazar, 118,197 hectares in Habiganj and highest 217,535 hectares in Sunamganj.
Farmer Ansar Ali in Shiberbazar village under Sylhet Sadar said, "It will take more time to start Boro cultivation here as many growers in some areas are still busy in Aman harvest."
Weeks ago, the DAE distributed incentives among 9,200 poor farmers in the division with a total expenditure of Tk 9223,000.
The incentives include seed, fertiliser and cash.
Our Bogura correspondent adds: Boro growers in the district are worried due to severe cold like situation.
A good number of farmers said Boro seedlings in some areas have started turning yellowish for cold environment.
Many growers in Bogura, Joypurhat, Sirajganj and Pabna districts under the agriculture region claimed that they have been provided low quality Boro seeds.
Low quality seed is also responsible for the present situation, they alleged.
In a recent visit in different areas under the agriculture zone this correspondent found most of the farmers had prepared Boro seedbeds last month.
Now they were watering lukewarm water from the shallow and deep tube-wells in the morning and evening so that the bone chilling cold does not hit the sapling.
Farmers also demanded proper action against the traders who supplied low quality seeds among the cultivators.
"I try my level best to complete transplanting Boro seedlings as early as possible to avoid cold weather and dense fog," said farmer Jalal Uddin under Kahaloo upazila.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources said most of the farmers are using lukewarm water from tube-wells, shallow machines and deep-tube-wells at night time to save the saplings from root rotting disease.