RANGPUR, Nov 9, 2020 (BSS) – The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has fixed a record target of producing 33.79 lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice (50.68 lakh tonnes of paddy) from 7.54 lakh hectares of land for Rangpur division during this Rabi season.
Officials of the DAE said farmers produced 32.64 lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice from 7.57 lakh hectares of land in all eight districts under Rangpur agriculture region and Dinajpur agriculture region of the division during the last Rabi season.
“The fixed production target of Boro rice for this season is higher by 1.15 lakh tonnes than the achieved output during the last season in the division,” Acting Additional Director of the DAE at its regional office here Agriculturist Md. Moniruzzaman said.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, Rural Electrification Board, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and other organisations have taken adequate steps to make the intensive Boro rice farming program a success.
“The DAE and other agriculture-related organisations and authorities concerned will ensure smooth supply of quality seeds of Boro rice, fertilisers and power to farmers to ensure smooth cultivation of Boro rice this season,” Moniruzzaman said.
Currently, farmers are busy with harvesting Aman rice and sowing seeds of Rabi crops like potato, maize, mustard and winter vegetables on their lands along with preparing Boro seedbeds of early varieties of Boro rice
Farmers will start preparing Boro rice seedbeds in full swing from this month-end and begin transplantation of early varieties of Boro rice seedlings on the low-lying and riverine char areas from late-December to complete harvest before the rainy season.
“On the other hand, transplantation of Boro rice seedlings will begin on the mainland from mid-January and continue till February next in all eight districts of Rangpur division,” Moniruzzaman said.
Under the programme, the DAE has fixed a target of producing 21.54 lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice from five lakh hectares of land in five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
Besides, 11.25 lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice will be produced from 2.58 lakh hectares of land in three districts of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh in Dinajpur agriculture region this season.
“The farmers will produce 11.46 lakh tonnes of hybrid variety Boro rice from 2.38 lakh hectares of land, 21.29 lakh tonnes of high yielding variety rice from 5.14 lakh hectares and 3,045 tonnes of local variety Boro rice from 1,500 hectares of land,” he said.
Field level officials of the DAE have already started extending assistance and latest technologies to farmers for successful Boro rice cultivation to enhance Boro rice production.
Talking to BSS, farmers Abdul Jabbar, Manik Miah, Ariful Haque, Aiyub Ali, Mahbubur Rahman, Mofizar Rahman and Abdul Aziz of different villages in Rangpur said they are preparing to bring more land under Boro rice cultivation this season.
Noted Agriculturist Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid, who got the Independence Award 2018 Medal (food security), advised farmers to complete transplantation of Boro rice seedlings transplantation on their croplands within February 15 to get maximum yield rate.
“The field level DAE officials should inspire farmers in adopting Alternate Drying and Wetting irrigation method in farming Boro rice to increase its production using less irrigation water saving underground water also to improve the environment,” he added.