Bumper Boro production likely in Rangpur region

A bumper production of Boro rice is likely in Rangpur agriculture region where harvest of the major cereal crop continues in full swing with bumper yield rate making farmers happy this season.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have already harvested Boro rice on 12.24 percent of their cultivated land area with an average yield rate.

The DAE has fixed a target of producing 22,07,132 tonnes of clean Boro rice (33,10,698 tonnes in terms of paddy) from 5,03,550 hectares of land for all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region this season.

“Farmers have finally brought 5,05,235 hectares of land under Boro rice cultivation exceeding the fixed farming target by 1,685 hectares of land or 0.33 per cent,” Additional Director of the DAE’s Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Tauhidul Ikbal said on Tuesday.

Farmers have cultivated Boro rice on more land area after getting special assistance from the government aiming at further enhancing rice production in the region this season.

“Till Monday, farmers have harvested Boro rice on 61,851 hectares of land in the region producing over 2,28,291 tonnes of clean rice at the average yield rate of 3.69 tonnes of clean rice per hectare,” Ikbal said.

Many farmers are utilising combined harvester machines for harvesting Boro paddy on one acre of land using one machine in an hour spending Tk 3,000 only against Tk 6,000 to 8,000 for the same purpose on one acre of land by engaging labourers.

The government through the DAE has distributed combined harvester machines to farmers and groups of farmers at Taka 14 lakh per unit against the real price of Tk 28 lakh at 50 per cent subsidised rates. Besides, farmers are easily harvesting their cultivated Boro rice on crop lands using reaper machines in the region.

“The field level DAE officials extended necessary assistance to farmers and provided latest technologies to them to make the Boro rice cultivation program a success this season,” Ikbal said.

Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said the government ensured smooth supply of fertilisers, pesticides, diesel and electricity to farmers to make the Boro rice farming program a success.

“Following various pragmatic steps of the government and cultivation of high yielding and hybrid varieties of Boro rice on more land area, a bumper production of Boro rice is expected this season,” Rashid said.

Farmer Ariful Haque Batul of village Najirdigar in Rangpur Sadar said sharecroppers are continuing harvest of Boro rice on his six acres of land and getting excellent yield this season.

“I am harvesting my cultivated Boro rice on four acres of land and getting excellent yield this season,” said farmer Manik Mian of village Darshona in Rangpur Sadar upazila.

Similarly, farmers Mossarraf Hossain, Solaiman Ali, Abdul Hye and Anwar Hossain of different villages in Rangpur said they are harvesting Boro rice after successfully cultivating the crop on their crop lands this season.