Haor farmers start boro harvest, eye good yield

The harvesting of Boro paddy has commenced across the haor regions of the district, with farmers expecting a successful harvest this season.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Boro was cultivated on 2,23,511 hectares of land in the district this year, surpassing the initial target by six hectares.

The total production target for the season is estimated at approximately 1.4 million metric tons.
Early varieties, specifically BRRI-96 and BRRI-28, are currently being harvested in the haors of Madhyanagar, Jamalganj, Shantiganj, and Bishwambharpur.

Farmers, such as Gafur Mia from Kharcharar Haor, noted that BRRI-96 has become increasingly popular over the last four years due to its high yield, low cultivation cost, and the fine quality of the rice.
To facilitate a swift harvest, the agricultural department has deployed 577 combined harvesters alongside 6,000 laborers.

Officials stated that sufficient fuel reserves are available for the machinery, and an additional 50 harvesters are being brought in from ACI Company to expedite the process.

However, heavy rainfall and onrush of water from hill slopes have emerged as significant threats, causing waterlogging in several areas including Paknar, Tanguar, Dekhar, and Halir haors.

In response to the rising water levels, some farmers have begun harvesting half-ripe paddy to avoid total loss.

Mohammad Omar Faruk, Deputy Director of the Sunamganj DAE, confirmed that while the harvest is in its early stages, the popularity of these early varieties is growing because they allow farmers to secure their crops before the peak monsoon.

He advised farmers to harvest their paddy as soon as it matures to mitigate the risks posed by the weather.

The DAE has also formally requested the authorities to provide incentives for farmers whose crops have been damaged by sudden waterlogging.