RANGPUR, Feb 10, 2023 (BSS) - Braving recent cold waves, farmers have already completed transplantation of Boro rice seedlings on 72 percent of the targeted land area in Rangpur agriculture region.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said tender plants of Boro rice are growing well across the region where transplantation of seedlings continues in full swing during the current Rabi season.
 
The DAE and other agri-related organizations are providing latest technologies to farmers to increase rice production and further strengthen food security amid the global crises caused by the Russia-Ukraine War and Covid-19 pandemic.
 
"Getting necessary assistance from the government, farmers have put maximum efforts to make the Boro rice farming program a success," said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Mohammad Shah Alam.
 
The government has fixed a target of producing 22,30,219 tonnes of clean Boro rice (33,45,329 tonnes of paddy) from 5,07,050 hectares of land for all five districts in the region this season.
 
Meanwhile, enthusiastic farmers have already transplanted Boro rice seedlings on over 3,65,080 hectares of land or 72 percent against the fixed farming target in the region till Thursday.
   
The DAE with other related organizations, Northern Electricity Supply Company Limited and Rural Electrification Board are ensuring smooth supply of fertilizers and electricity to farmers to ensure smooth Boro rice cultivation.
 
"We are expecting that enthusiastic farmers will exceed the fixed Boro rice farming target in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts of the region this season," Alam said.
 
Being inspired by the DAE, farmers are adopting conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies, including Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation methods, while farming Boro rice to save irrigation water and increase rice output at reduced costs.
 
"So far, farmers have already applied organic fertilisers on 2,45,245 hectares of Boro rice fields against targeted 31,844 hectares and balanced fertilisers on 2,29,623 hectares against targeted 1,91,065 hectares of land as the process continues," Alam added.
 
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Mahbubar Rahman said transplantation of Boro rice seedlings has already been completed in low-lying lands and char and riverine areas.
 
"Farmers have brought more low-lying char lands, beels and riverine areas under Boro rice farming and are nursing the growing rice plants to complete its harvest before commencement of the rainy season this year," he added.
   
Agriculturist Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid, who got the Independent Medal 2018 (food security), lauded the government for extending necessary assistance to farmers for making the Boro rice farming program a success in the region.
 
"Farmers should adopt the CA-based technologies like AWD irrigation method and use balanced and organic fertilisers to get maximum Boro rice yield at reduced costs also saving underground water," he added.
    
Talking to BSS, farmers Aiyub Ali, Nurul Alam, Ariful Haque, Abul Kalam, Mostafizur Rahman and Harun Ar Rashid of different villages in Rangapur said they have already completed transplantation of Boro rice seedlings on their croplands.