The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Kurigram

When thousands of farmers are passing their days with great anxiety due to pest attack on their paddy field, some 2,652 farmers, who cultivated BRI-33 variety, are celebrating paddy harvest festival in the district.

While visiting Jatrapur, Ghogadoho and Panchgachhi unions in Sadar upazila on Saturday, UNB correspondent found that farmers are harvesting paddy with much enthusiasm. In the morning, field day on BRI-33 cultivation to challenge Monga was observed on the house premises of Bhoben Chandra Barman of Shakharipara village in Ghogadoho union. Deputy Commissioner of the district AR Mollah attended the programme as chief guest while local UNO Sayed Kutub was present as special guest.

Later, the DC inaugurated harvesting of paddy on the field of Rathin Chandra Barman.

Field trainer of Social Welfare department, Jatrapur union, Ferdousi Khatun told that her organization, with the help of local NGO RDRS, engaged 235 farmers to cultivate BRI-33 on 180 acres here.

The farmers have already started harvesting the paddy after the 102 days of cultivation, she said. Farmer Mojibur Rahman said he cultivated BRI-33 on his 66 decimals of land and got 17 maunds of paddy from where he produced only 12 maunds last season. "I can produce three crops from my land in a year.

After cultivating BRI-33, I will cultivate potato or mustard seeds or cauliflower and then Boro on my land," said farmer Rathin Chandra Barman.

RDRS official Ahmmed Hossain said 2,652 farmers have cultivated BRI-33 on 972 acres across the district and they have been able to harvest their paddy between 102 to 105 days without any pest attack of other diseases.