RANGPUR, May 11, 2020 (BSS) – The government through the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has distributed six combined harvester machines among the farmers of Gangachara upazila in the district at fifty percent subsidized rates.
Officials said four of the machines were distributed recently while two others distributed in an informal function held at Gangachara upazila office premises on Sunday afternoon maintaining physical distance to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) spread.
Gangachara upazila chairman Alhaj Ruhul Amin handed over the machines to farmers Mahbubur Rahman of village Pakuria in Barobeel union and Monwarul Islam of village Custom Bazar in Gajoghontha union in the function as the chief guest.
With Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Taslima Begum in the chair, upazila Vice-chairmen Shaju Ahmed Lal and Rabeya Begum, Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO) Agriculturist Shariful Islam, Sub-assistant Plant Protection Officer Habibur Rahman attended the function.
UAO Agriculturist Shariful Islam said the government is distributing the combine harvester machines among the farmers to assist them in easily harvesting Boro rice on their fields at reduced costs overcoming labourer shortage this season.
“The government through the DAE is distributing the combined harvester machines at Taka 14 lakh per unit against the real price of Taka 28 lakh at 50 percent subsidized rates,” he said.
The farmers, their groups or local service providers can purchase the combined harvester machines at 50 percent subsidized rates for harvesting their own cultivated rice and providing the same services at reduced costs to their fellow farmers.
“A farmer can harvest and clean Boro paddy of one acre of land using a combined harvester machine in an hour spending Taka 3,000,” he said adding that a farmer spends Taka 6,000 for the same purpose on one acre of land by engaging labourers.
The chief guest urged the farmers to use the combined harvester machines in harvesting their own cultivated rice and providing the same services to other farmers to face labour-shortage and reduce the harvesting cost of Boro paddy by 50 percent.