Alam Sarowar Tito, Kishoreganj :
The harvesting of Boro paddy has began in the haor region in the eastern part of Bangladesh, with farmers optimistic about a bumper production this season. Farmers in Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Brahmanbaria have started harvesting the paddy.
This year, the government has set a target of producing 40 lakh tonnes of paddy from near 10 lakh hectares of land in the haor area. In Kishoreganj, Boro paddy has been cultivated on about 167,500 hectares of land this year.
When contacted, Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Abul Kamal Azad told the New Nation that the bumper boro paddy production is expected in haor region. DC visited the hoar areas and instructed the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) to take measures so that the farmers could harvest the paddy on time.
Agriculturist Abdus Satter, Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said that, farmers achieved success in exceeding the paddy farming target by capitalising on suitable climatic conditions and government support.
Boro is the primary crop, contributing 55 per cent of the overall rice supply in the country, while the haor region will provide an additional 20 per cent of the total rice produced in the Boro season. Later, farmers are concerned about getting good returns from the paddy due to higher fertiliser, seed, and irrigation costs.
Water Development Board (WDB), Executive Engineer in Kishoreganj district, Motiur Rahman said that, all the crop protection dams have been repaired on time in haor areas. So this time, there is no possibility of loss of Boro crop due to advance flood, WDB executive engineer added.