RANGPUR, Feb 5, 2022 (BSS) – Farmers have already completed transplantation of Boro rice seedlings on 55 percent of the targeted land area in Rangpur agriculture region

Tender plants of Boro rice are growing well as the process of transplantation of seedling continues in full swing everywhere in the region during this Rabi season.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have put maximum efforts in Boro rice cultivation braving the Covid-19 pandemic in the region.

“The government is extending assistance to farmers to make the intensive Boro rice farming program a success,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Md. Mahbubur Rahman told BSS today.

The government has fixed a target of producing 22,07,132 tonnes of clean Boro rice (33,10,698 tonnes of paddy) from 5,03,550 hectares of land for all five districts in the region this season.

“Enthusiastic farmers, however, have already transplanted Boro rice seedlings on 2,77,217 lakh hectares of land which is 55 percent against the fixed farming target as seedling transplantation continues,” he said.
 
With the improvement of the cold wave situation today, farmers have accelerated transplantation of Boro rice seedlings to complete the process on time in the region.

“The DAE and other related agriculture organisations, Power Development Board and Rural Electrification Board are ensuring smooth supply of fertilisers and electricity to farmers to ensure smooth Boro rice cultivation this season,” Rahman said.
 
Getting necessary assistance from the government, enthusiastic farmers are expected to exceed the fixed Boro rice farming target in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts of the region.
 
Farmers are adopting conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies and better agronomic management while farming Boro rice to save irrigation water and increase rice output at reduced costs.

“So far, farmers applied organic fertilisers on 1,82,519 hectares of Boro rice fields against targeted 27,722 hectares and balanced fertilisers on 2,14,872 hectares against targeted 1,66,330 hectares of land as the process continues,” Rahman added.

Talking to BSS today, Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturalist Mamunur Rashid 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 Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method and use balanced and organic fertilisers to get maximum Boro rice yield at reduced costs also saving underground water,” he added.
 
Like many other farmers, Mozaffar Hossain, Jahangir Alam, Ariful Haque, Abul Kalam, Nuruzzaman Mian and Aiyub Ali of different villages in Rangapur Sadar said they have already completed transplantation of Boro rice seedlings on their croplands.