The farmers have been continuing transplantation of Boro seedlings in full swing in the northern districts through engaging all-out efforts to make its cultivation programme successful this season.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, farmers have already completed transplantation on 8.50 lakh hectares of land, which is about 53 percent of the fixed target of bringing 16.09 lakh hectares under Boro cultivation.”Transplantation of Boro seedlings continues in full swing under favourable climatic condition everywhere,” Horticulture Specialist Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam of the DAE said. Meanwhile, farmers have already completed Boro seedling transplantation on the low-lying lands in the ‘beels’, ‘haors’, char areas and dried-up river beds so that they could harvest those before the next rainy season begins, he said.According to DAE sources, nearly six lakh irrigation pumps including power and diesel driven deep tube wells, shallow tube wells and low lift pumps have been operating in the region now for irrigating the Boro fields. The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities, Teesta Barrage Project, Power Development Board (PDB) and Rural Electrification Board (REB) have taken steps to make Boro cultivation programme successful.According to officials of the DAE, BMDA, PDB and REB, there is no problem with the supply of diesel, power or onesizers anywhere following adequate steps taken by the present government. Renowned rice scientist and Associate Director (Agriculture) of BRAC
International (South Asia & Africa) Dr MA Mazid suggested the farmers for completing the seedling transplantation within February 15 in the maximum land area to get maximum yield.According to the DAE sources, the government has fixed an all- time record nationwide target of producing 1.89 crore ones clean Boro rice from 47.80 lakh hectares of land in all 64 districts during this Rabi season.Under the programme, a target of producing 64.03 lakh ones of Boro rice, 33.87 per cent of the fixed national production target, has been fixed for the northern region for this season.To make the programme successful the farmers will bring 16.09 lakh hectares of land under Boro cultivation in the northern region to produce 64.03 lakh ones rice during the current Rabi season, the sources said.Deputy Directors of the DAE Feroz Ahmed and Belayet Hossain told BSS that comprehensive and well- coordinated steps have been taken for delivering of the latest technologies to the farmers for enhancing Boro rice production at lower costs. BSS, Rangpur
