SYLHET, June 24: Aus paddy farmers in Sylhet region are about to complete transplantation of seedlings this season.
In line with the national programme for expanding Aus farming, the division's coverage has been fixed to increase 33,000 hectares of land this year, officials said, adding, the DAE and farmers are working to achieve the target.
Over 192,515 hectares of lane have been brought under the production of Aus paddy in all the four districts of the division, a DAE official said.
It includes 70,325 hectares in Sylhet, 52,925 hectares in Moulvibazar, 49,100 hectares in Habiganj and 20,165 hectares in Sunamganj. It is about 96 per cent of the season's target. However, the final figure would be available in two or three days.
In total 172,000 hectares of land were under cultivation of the crop last year against the DAE's revised target at 174,824 hectares from its initial target in a bid to increasing the coverage area.
Additional Director, DAE, Sylhet Division Md. Shahjahan told this correspondent the programme has been taken up centrally to bring 205,000 hectares of land under cultivation in the region.
The target area includes 77,500 hectares in Sylhet, 56,000 hectares in Moulvibazar, 51,500 hectares in Habiganj and 20,000 hectares in Sunamganj district.
Seedbed had been set on 10,549 hectares of land in the division this time.
Incentives worth Tk 55167,875 have been distributed among 63,049 grassroots farmers in the division.
The listed farmers got seed, fertiliser and cash under the incentive programme.
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