By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, June 10, 2023 (BSS) - Getting multi-dimensional support from the government, farmers have produced a record 22 lakh 40 thousand and 429 tonnes of clean Boro rice (33,60,644 tonnes in terms of paddy) this season in Rangpur agriculture region.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have exceeded the fixed production target of producing 22,30,219 tonnes of clean Boro rice by 10,210 tonnes this time in the region.
 
"The record Boro rice output has been achieved following different pragmatic steps taken by the government to enhance rice output amid global crises caused by the Russia-Ukraine War," said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Aftab Hossain.
 
The steps included delivery of special incentives, inspiring farmers to increase farming of high yielding and hybrid varieties of Boro rice, smooth supply of fertilisers and electricity for irrigation, use of latest technologies and proper agronomic management.
 
Earlier, the government through the DAE had 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.
 
"Enthusiastic farmers, however, finally transplanted Boro rice seedlings on 5,06,525 hectares of land or 99.90 percent against the fixed farming target in the region this time," Hossain said.
 
Farmers brought more land in mainland and low-lying char areas under cultivation of high yielding and hybrid varieties of Boro rice leading to the bumper production despite a little shortfall in achieving the fixed farming target.
 
"After completing harvest last week, farmers finally produced 22,40,429 tonnes of clean Boro rice at an average yield rate of 4.42 tonnes per hectare of land this time," Hossain said.
 
Alongside farming high yielding and hybrid varieties of Boro rice, farmers adopted latest conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies, like Alternate Wetting and Drying irrigation method and organic pests' management, increasing rice output at reduced costs.
 
"Despite cultivable land area is lessening, Rangpur region continues to increase production of rice, including Boro rice, in recent years following pragmatic steps taken by the government to adapt to adverse effects of climate change," Hossain added.
 
Earlier, farmers produced 21.93-lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice in 2022, 22-lakh tonnes in 2021, 2.15-lakh tonnes in 2020, 21.66-lakh tonnes in 2019, 20.90-lakh tonnes in 2018, 20.56-lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice in 2017 in the region.
 
Independence Award 2018 Medal (food security) awardee Agriculturist Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid said well-timed transplantation of seedlings and providing necessary assistance by the government to farmers contributed to bumper Boro rice production.
 
"Expanded adoption of the CA-based agri-technologies despite cooperatively less rainfalls largely contributed to bumper production of Boro rice yield in the region," Dr Mazid added.
 
Talking to BSS, farmers Abdul Hamid, Monirul Islam, Sujan Mian, Sunil Kumar and Amenur Rahman of different villages in Rangpur said they had cultivated Boro rice on one to five acres of land each and got a bumper output this season.
 
They also thanked the government for procuring Boro paddy directly from farmers at fair prices across the region.
 
"We are getting comparatively better market prices of Boro paddy at rates between Taka 1,100 and 1,250 per mound (every 40 kgs) in local markets," said farmer Ariful Haque Batul of village Najirdigar of Sadar upazila in Rangpur district.