RANGPUR, Jan 2, 2025 (BSS) – Farmers of Rangpur region began transplantation of Boro rice seedlings amid a sweeping cold wave this season aiming at enhancing rice output for ensuring food security.
   
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the interim government has taken sufficient steps to assist farmers to make the Boro rice farming programme a success during the current Rabi season.
 
“Transplantation of Boro rice seedling continues in full swing in low-lying and char areas as the process will get momentum from mid-January next on the mainland,” said Additional Director of the DAE’s Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Obaidur Rahman Mondal.
 
The DAE has set an all-time record target of producing 22,94,195 tonnes of clean Boro rice (34,41,292 tonnes of paddy) from 5,08,978 hectares of land   this season.  
 
Farmers will produce 11,20,334 tonnes of hybrid variety Boro rice from 2,27,853 hectares of land, 11,71,799 tonnes of high yielding variety rice from 2,80,015 hectares and 2,062 tonnes of local variety Boro rice from 1,110 hectares of land.
 
“Meanwhile, enthusiastic farmers have already transplanted Boro rice seedlings in 525 hectares of land in all five districts of the region till Wednesday,” he said.
  
So far, farmers have prepared Boro rice seedbeds on 25,807 hectares of land exceeding the fixed target of preparing the same on 23,189 hectares of land by 11.29 percent in the region.
 
The DAE and other agri-related organizations are providing latest technologies to farmers to increase rice production at low costs and further strengthening food security amid adverse impacts of climate change.
 
The DAE with other related organizations, Northern Electricity Supply Company Limited and Rural Electrification Board are ensuring smooth supply of seeds, fertilizers and electricity to farmers to ensure smooth Boro rice cultivation.
 
“We are inspiring farmers to adopt conservation agriculture-based technologies like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method in farming Boro rice to lessen lifting of underground water for irrigation and increase rice output at reduced cost,” Mondal said.
   
With little worsening in the cold wave situation during the past couple of days, farmers are facing hardship in transplanting Boro rice seedlings in their crop lands now in the region.
     
Farmer Anwar Hossain of Mohipur area in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur said transplantation of Boro rice seedlings is nearing completion in the low-lying char lands, beels and riverine areas in the region.
 
“Farmers are targeting to bring more low-lying char lands,   beels and riverine areas under Boro rice farming to complete its harvest before commencement of the next rainy season,” he added.
           
Independent Medal winner (food security) Agriculturist Dr Md Abdul Mazid suggested farmers complete transplantation of Boro rice seedlings in their croplands by February 15 next to get the maximum yield of the major cereal crop.
 
He also advised farmers for large-scale adoption of AWD irrigation method and ensuring proper agronomic management to get maximum Boro rice yield at reduced cost saving huge underground water and fuel cost for irrigation.
             
Farmers, Farhad Hossain, Mohammad Ashraful Haque, Bakul Mian and Rahamat Ali of different villages in Rangpur said they are preparing to begin transplantation of seedlings on their croplands to complete the process by February 15 next.