27 lakh farmers to get Tk 170cr incentives

Staff Reporter :
A total of 27 lakh farmers will get Tk 170 crore as incentives to boost Boro paddy production across the country and the government has already started disbursing the money.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Boro farmers totaling 27 lakh will get seeds and fertilisers under the programme.
However, the incentives are being disbursed in three categories among the farmers for boosting hybrid Boro production, 15 lakh farmers will get two kg seeds each spending Tk82 crore of the incentives, high officials of the Agriculture Ministry told this correspondent on Tuesday.
Apart from this, some 12 lakh more farmers will be beneficiary under the incentive of about Tk73 crore for increasing the production of high-yielding varieties. Under the programme, a farmer will get 5kg of seeds, 10kg of DAP and 10kg of MOP fertiliser required for cultivating one bigha land.
Besides, an incentive of Tk15 crore will be given for simultaneous planting and harvesting of paddy in a field to facilitate the use of agricultural machinery.
Under this, 110 blocks or exhibitions will be set up in 61 districts. Each exhibition will be held on 50 acres of land costing Tk 13.70 lakh.
These incentives are being provided from the agriculture rehabilitation support sector under the regular budget of the Ministry of Agriculture.
These incentives distribution programmes are ongoing at the field level, and about 50% of incentives have already been disbursed.
According to sources, the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) estimated that farmers are likely to cultivate Boro on 49 lakh hectares of lands in the upcoming season.
But, farmers cultivated Boro on 48,72,600 hectares of lands in fiscal year 2021-22.
The government had fixed a target of producing 2,09,51,302 tonnes of Boro in FY 2021-22, while the hybrid production target was 60,87,901 tonnes and Ufshi 1,48,26,100 tonnes.