RANGPUR, April 21, 2020 (BSS) – The Department of Agricultural Extension
(DAE) has started sending farm labourers from Rangpur region to the different
southern and eastern regions of the country for harvesting of Boro rice.
Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur agriculture region Agriculturist
Muhammad Ali said the initiative has been taken in the wake of coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak as per directions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and
Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzaque.
“The district, upazila, police and health administrations are extending
assistance in educating the farm labourers about the safety measures to be
taken amid COVID-19 outbreak before sending them under official management to
different regions,” he said.
More than 1,000 farm labourers have already been sent in the last few days
till today to the haor areas in Sylhet region, Cumilla region, Chalan Beel
area and other regions to assist the local farmers there in completing harvest
of their ripe Boro rice timely.
Besides, the DAE with assistance of different other organisations and
farmers’ groups has already sent three combined harvesters to the haor areas
in greater Sylhet regions for quickly completing harvest of the ripe Boro rice
crop on the fields.
“Each of the combined harvesters is capable of harvesting ripe Boro rice on
one acre of land in only one hour,” Agriculturist Ali said.
The process of sending farm labourers to the eastern, southern and other
regions of the country continues in full swing now from Rangpur, Nilphamari,
Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts of Rangpur agriculture region.
Before sending the farm labourers to other regions, the DAE, local
administration and health department are jointly giving certificates after
conducting their medical tests and educating on the health directives allowing
them to harvest Boro rice in those areas.
“In addition to providing necessary training on health, hygiene and health
directions, masks, sanitizers, medicines and necessary food are being given to
the farm labourers before their departure by buses under official management,”
Ali said.
After arrival in their respective areas, the local district, police and
health administrations and DAE will take care and make other arrangements for
their treatments, if needed, and ensure safe stay strictly marinating physical
distance.
The local authorities will arrange protected living of the farm-labourers in
separate rooms of different educational and other institutions and provide
food to them during their stay in their respective areas without going to
contacts of local people.
After going out of their rooms, the farm labourers will come back to their
respective rooms after harvesting Boro rice at the end of the day.
Such measures have been taken to prevent community transmission of COVID-19
and the police administrations are extending assistance in ensuring safe
transportation of the farm labourers amid the lockdown situation.
Along with earning better wages, the farm labourers will greatly help the
farmers of the haor areas and other regions to save their ripe Boro rice crop
from damage by completing its harvest before commencement of the next rainy
season.
“After Boro rice harvest in the haor areas and other regions, the farm
labourers will return to Rangpur region after four weeks with good amounts in
their hands to lead a better life with their family members,” Ali said.
As harvesting of Boro rice will begin in full swing after four weeks from
the third week of May next in Rangpur region, the farm labourers will start
harvesting of Boro rice crop in their local respective areas to earn full
wages again.