Farmers have cultivated boro paddy on around 830,000 hectares of land exceeding the target set by Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in eight districts under Rajshahi division during the current season.
“We had fixed the target of bringing around 811,000 hectares of land under the paddy farming but the growers cultivated the same on 830,000 hectares creating scopes of producing 3393,000 tonnes of rice in the division,” said Dev Dulal Dhali, Additional Director of DAE, on Thursday.
He said the farmers attained the success of exceeding the paddy farming target after taking advantages of all existing opportunities like suitable climatic condition and supports provided by DAE and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
Agriculturist Dhali said the prevailing suitable weather has made the paddy farmers optimistic of getting good yield of boro paddy in the region including its vast Barind tract.
Currently, farmers are passing their busy days in nursing the growing plants everywhere in the region with the hope of expected yield. Most of the farming areas have become green with breakthrough of farmers relentless efforts and favourable climatic condition.
Dulal Dhali said steps have been taken to ensure smooth Boro rice cultivation this season. The farming is going on in full swing across the region.
Nurul Amin Siddiqui, 48, a farmer of Karnahar village under Paba Upazila, said he has cultivated paddy on three bighas of land.
The paddy fields which were brought under advanced varieties are now booting and flowering stages at present. He is hoping of good yield as the weather remains, so far, favourable.
Siddiqui says paddy farming area has been enhanced this year due to good condition of present paddy market.
“We have transplanted seedlings successfully. Now, the plants are now growing well,” said Siraj Uddin Khan, 45, another farmer of Belghoria village under Tanore Upazila.
He added that the advanced varieties are likely to be harvested within next fifteen to twenty days.
“I have cultivated Boro on eight bighas of land this season”, said Lokman Hossain, a farmer in Mohadebpur upazila.”
President of Water Management Association of Paba Nurul Amin said, “The farmers of my area are now busy in Boro cultivation. I have cultivated Boro on six bighas of land when it was only three-bigha in last year.
“We have promoted more than 10 high yielding varieties in the farming fields to boost the paddy production,” said Dr Aminul Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of BRRI, reports BSS.
