69% Boro harvested in Netrakona haor

Harvesting of Boro paddy is going on in full swing in the haor areas of Netrakona for protecting their hard-earned crops from onrush of hilly water.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said the farmers have already harvested over 69 per cent of boro paddy sown in the haor areas of the district.

When this correspondent visited the areas he found the farmers are seen in actions for protecting their hard-earned Boro paddy from onrush of hilly water and harvesting the crop without
any delay.

Several crop protection embankments including Kirtonkula dyke have developed cracks at different points in Khaliajury area due to heavy pressure of hilly waters from upstream, causing tensions among the farmers.

But, a joint team of district Water Development Board (WDB), district and Khaliajury upazila administrations, district police administration and local people repaired the cracks of the embankments by taking timely steps and making concerted efforts.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kazi Mohammad Abdur Rahman led the joint team and involved himself in the repairing works.

As a result, on rush of hilly waters could not mark any havoc to the standing Boro crops inside the embankments, Executive Engineer of district WDB M L Saikat said.

Deputy Director of  DAE, Netrakona, FM Mubarak Ali said farmers cultivated Boro paddy on a total of 1, 84,828 hectors of land in ten upazilas during the this season.

A target was fixed to produce 11 lakhs 67 thousands 730 metric tonnes of Boro paddy this year, he said.

Sources said the farmers cultivated Boro paddy on 40, 960 hectres of land in the haor areas of the district.

Following instructions of the government, the DAE field-level officials and crops specialists have been working together with the Boro cultivators of the haor areas to harvest high yielding and hybrid varieties of paddy as early as possible to save those from hilly onrush, Ali said

The government at the directives of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina supplied 301 combined harvester machines to the door-steps of the haor farmers to expedite the harvesting, he informed.

The deputy director said by this time, over 69 per cent of Boro crops of the haor areas have already been harvested.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Akber Ali Munshi informed that several police teams have already been deployed in the haor areas to keep an eye on crops protection embankments.

The deputy commissioner said the district administration is monitoring the harvesting in the haor areas and cooperating with them round the clock to complete the paddy cutting works timely without facing hilly waters.