Boro farming progressing fast in Khulna, Narail

BSS, Khulna :
The farming of Boro paddy is progressing fast in four districts under Khulna region during the current season amid much enthusiasm.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target to bring a total of 2, 49,700 hectares of land under the cultivation this year with the production target of 10,88,114 metric tons of clean rice, DAE sources said.
The farmers have already prepared seed beds on 1, 69,763 hectares of land where the seedlings have grown well. Though the green seedlings were being affected due to severe cold with dense fog, the DAE took precautionary measures to protect the seedlings from cold injuries through motivating the farmers.
Different schedule banks including Bangladesh Krishi Bank have taken plans to disburse agri-loans to the growers on easy term during the season.
To make the cultivation a grand success, necessary measures have been taken to supply fertilizers, insecticides and other agri-inputs to the farmers with ensuring power supply by West Zone Power Company Ltd (WZOPADICO) and Rural Electrification, said an official of DAE.
In Khulna district, farmers cultivated boro on 62,800 hectares of land with the production target over 2,80,222 tons of boro rice.
In Bagerhat, 59,650 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation with the production target of 2,74,337 tons of rice, in Satkhira, over 3, 12,825 tons of rice from 77,250 hectares of land and in Narail, 50,000 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation with the production target of 2,20,730 tons of rice.
BSS from Narail adds: Farmers in the district have started Boro paddy cultivation with a production target of 2,20,730 tons of rice from three upazilas of the district this year.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said farmers will complete very soon the cultivation of Boro paddy on 50,000 hectares of land in the three upazilas. Boro cultivation is expected to increase this year due to favourable weather condition and cultivation on 510 hectares more land than last year’s.
The target of Boro paddy cultivation has been fixed on 23,230 hectares of land in Sadar upazila, 10,250 hectares of land in Lohagara upazila and 16,520 hectares of land in Kalia upazila, DAE officials said.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) agriculturist Deepak Kumar Roy said the farmers are being trained and seeds of new varieties are being supplied in three upazilas of the district.
Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and other banks have provided agricultural loans to farmers on easy terms, he added.