ZCZC
BSS-03
PADDY-PRODUCTION-RAJSHAHI (with picture)
Around 35 lakh tonnes rice produced in Rajshahi division
RAJSHAHI, June 18, 2019 (BSS) – Farmers have produced around 35 lakh
tonnes of Irri-boro rice during the current season in Rajshahi division.
They got the paddy yield after completing the harvesting activities in the
recent past time everywhere in all eight districts under the division
including its vast Barind tract.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), officials said farmers
cultivated boro paddy on around 8.30 lakh hectares of land, exceeding the
target set by the DAE in this season.
“We had fixed the target of bringing around 8.11 lakh hectares of land
under boro farming with production target of 33.17 lakh tones of rice but the
growers cultivated it on 8.30 lakh hectares of land, creating scopes of
additional production of rice in the division,” said Additional Director of
DAE, Dev Dulal Dhali.
He says the farmers achieved the good paddy yield following various
effective steps by the government including distribution of special
government incentives among small and marginal farmers of the region.
The other steps included inspiring farmers in enhancing cultivation of
hybrid varieties of Boro rice, use of latest technologies, proper
fertilisation, agronomical managements, smooth supply of fertilisers and
electricity for irrigation.
Suitable weather also made the paddy farmers capable of getting good yield
of boro paddy as steps had been taken to ensure smooth Boro rice cultivation
in this season.
Nurul Amin Siddiqui, 48, a farmer of Karnahar village under Paba upazila,
said he had cultivated the paddy on three bighas of land.
Dr Aminul Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research
Institute (BRRI), said modern farming technologies and knowledge were
disseminated to the farmers through various programmes including 32 field
demonstrations with bringing 360 farmers under need-based training to enhance
rice production.
He said timely transplantation of seedling on major land area within the
prescribed time mainly contributed to bumper Boro rice yield this season.
“Expanded adoption of latest agriculture technologies and favourable climatic
conditions amid frequent rainfalls also contributed to the good rice yield,”
Dr Islam added.
Regional Agriculture Information Officer, Abdullah Heel Kafi said the DAE
and other agriculture-related organisations, Power Development Board and
Rural Electrification Board ensured smooth supply of seed, fertilizers and
electricity to the farmers.
He said the farmers were also imparted training on how to adopt
conservation agriculture technologies like Alternate Drying and Wetting
irrigation method at large scale.
Meanwhile, procurement of Boro rice and paddy is going on in full swing in
all eight districts under the division with the main thrust of facilitating
the farmers towards getting fair price of the newly harvested food grain.
According to the official sources, the government has taken decision of
procuring 2,69,550 tonnes of boiled rice, 22,476 tonnes of non-boiled rice
and 26,614 tonnes of paddy in the division.
The department of food has signed contract with 5,994 millers having valid
license to make the procurement drive a total success.
Regional Controller of Food Md Muniruzzaman said the main targets of the
procurement to ensure value support to the farmers, keeping the market price
of food grain to a reasonable rate, building food security stock and
continuing the supply system of official food distribution.
“We have procured 1,25,276 tonnes of boiled rice, 3,096 tonnes of non-
boiled rice, 12,381 tonnes of paddy and 10,387 tonnes of wheat till June 17
last,” he said adding that all the paddy and wheat were procured from the
farmers directly.
Talking to BSS today he also says the procurement drive will continue till
August 31 next.
BSS/SPL/AH/FI/ 1228 hrs