The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Farmers have already started planting early variety of Boro, dedicating their full efforts in achieving a record production as fixed by the government in the country's northern region.

Preparation of Boro seedbeds is still on and the farmers are also making their lands ready for further plantation after harvesting the T-Aman paddy.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said the government has fixed a production target of 59,58,980 tonnes of Boro rice from 15,08,137 hectares during the current Rabi season against over last year 56,78,523 tonnes from 14,40,261 hectares.

They said a total of 67,876 hectares of more lands would be brought under the Boro farming this year to recoup the losses caused by the recent floods in the region.

Deputy Director of DAE, Rangpur, Kamal Shariful Alam said special emphasis has been given on using the latest technology and quality hybrid seeds this time to help the farmers achieve the target.

"Hybrid varieties of Boro paddy will be cultivated on 50,000 hectares of land out of the total 1,17,140 hectares in Rangpur alone," he said.

Similarly, he said, initiatives have been taken for farming of the hybrid Boro variety in other districts of the region to increase the overall rice production this year.

Increased yield of Boro is expected this year because of the training being provided to the farmers along with all possible facilities including fertilisers and other agri-inputs, DAE sources said. The army personnel are closely monitoring the overall fertiliser, diesel and power supply situation for smooth farming of Boro crop this season, the officials said.