RANGPUR, Feb 18, 2022 (BSS) – Transplantation of Boro rice seedlings is nearing completion in Rangpur agriculture region where farmers have already completed the process on 90 percent of the targeted land area.
 
Meanwhile, tender plants of Boro rice are growing superbly although the process of transplantation of seedlings will continue till this month-end in the region during the current Rabi season.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said enthusiastic farmers have put maximum efforts in Boro rice cultivation braving the Covid-19 pandemic in all five districts of the region.
 
“Farmers are expecting to achieve the fixed Boro rice getting all necessary assistance from the government this season,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Md. Mahbubur Rahman told BSS today.
 
The DAE 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 4,53,200 hectares of land which is 90 percent against the fixed farming target till Thursday as seedling transplantation continues in the region,” he said.
    
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 time.
 
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 2,92,662 hectares of Boro rice fields against targeted 27,722 hectares and balanced fertilisers on 3,47,304 hectares against targeted 1,66,330 hectares of land as the process continues,” Rahman added.
 
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 in the region.
 
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.
 
“Enthusiastic farmers are expected to exceed the fixed Boro rice farming target in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts of the region,” he added.
 
Talking to BSS, Agriculturist Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid, who got the Independent Medal 2018 (food security), lauded the government for extending required assistance to farmers for making the Boro rice farming programme a success this season.
 
He suggested farmers adopt the CA-based technologies like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method and use balanced and organic fertilisers for getting  highest Boro rice yield at reduced costs which also saves underground water.
             
Like many other farmers, Akbor Hossain, Rezaul Karim, Echhahaq Ali, Abdul Hakim, Mozaffar Hossain and Manik Mian of different villages in Rangpur sadar upazila said they have already completed the transplantation of Boro rice seedlings.