Home ›› 03 Feb 2023 ›› Nation
More than 500 hectares of land of four beels (waterbody) of Tungipara upazila of Gopalganj, lying fallow for 30 years, has been brought under Boro paddy cultivation, following the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Agriculturists expect around 3,000 tonnes of Boro paddy harvest from these lands.
Earlier this month while visiting Tungipara, the PM inspected the fallow lands of the beels and directed the agricultural department to bring the lands under cultivation. She emphasized increasing crop production by increasing cultivation.
Tungipara Upazila Agriculture Officer of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Md Jamal Uddin, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inspected the Puber Beel and ordered to bring waterlogged fallow land under cultivation.
“We planted Boro paddy in 100 bighas of land of Puber Beel which interested farmers who own lands in Puber Beel, Hoglar beel, Taraill Beel, and Jowaria Beel to also come forward and cultivate paddy. An estimated Tk 7.5 crore worth of paddy will be harvested from the 500 hectares of land currently under cultivation,” he said.
The DAE, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) are working together to expand spice cultivation, research and popularisation in the area. Another project they are also working on is vegetable cultivation on floating beds of aquatic plants.
“We have prepared floating beds of water hyacinths in the waterlogged areas of the Puber Beel and planted vegetables, fruits and spice crops. At least Tk 5 lakh worth of vegetables, fruits and spices will be produced from here,” he said.
Md Mofizur Sheikh, 55, a farmer in the Puber Beel area said after about three decades the fallow lands of the beel have been cultivated again.
“We are following the instruction of our honourable PM with the advice from the agricultural office we have decided to cultivate our lands in the beels. I hope we will get a good yield,” he said.
Osman Sheikh, 59, a farmer of the upazila, planted paddy on his 2 bighas of fallow land in Tarail Beel on the advice of agricultural officials.
“The agri officials are advising us to cultivate every available land instead of leaving them fallow. I was not aware that paddy can be easily cultivated in beels, so I am grateful to them,” said farmer Moenur, 50, of the Hogla Beel area.
Dr Md Zahidul Islam, in-charge and senior scientific officer of Gopalganj BRRI, said they have arranged an irrigation pump to facilitate the paddy farmers of Puber Beel
“BRRI hybrid dhan-3, and BRRI hybrid dhan-4, developed by our office, are being cultivated here. We expect a good yield from this variety,” he said.
