The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Hectic preparations have been going on in full swing here with combined efforts of farmers, government officials and joint forces to make sure the bumper production of boro paddy in the district during upcoming season.

Get back from frustration following poor production of just ended Aman cultivation due to persistent attack of floods, the farmers with renewed spirit have put in their full efforts in taking preparations including planting of boro seedlings for getting bumper harvest in coming season.

"I have suffered a huge loss in last Aman season as there was almost no production from the lands, I cultivated, due to successive floods. But I am hopeful of getting necessary support from the government for boro cultivation to cover the losses" Kader Meah , a farmer in Rangunia Upazila said.

He said apart from favourable weather, adequate supply of fertiliser, pesticides with affordable prices, sufficient power supply for running irrigation pumps have to be ensured to get maximum boro production.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target of producing 2,55,676 tonnes of Boro paddy from 69,630 hectares of land under 14 upazilas in the district this season against last year's 69,000 hectares of land with 2,53,230 tonnes of production, DAE officials said .

They said farmers have already planted boro seedlings over 1000 hectares of land till to date while seedlings are to be planted over more lands for boro cultivation.

DAE, district administration, BPC, PDB and Joint Forces are constantly working closely as per chalked out plan and in line with the government directives and watching the day-to-day developments to create a conducive atmosphere for boro cultivation with a view to ensure available fertiliser, pesticides, power and diesel fuel at the doorsteps of farmers throughout the season.

Anisur Rahman, Deputy Director of DAE, Chittagong said all preparations have been completed for giving continues assistance to the farmers attaching top priority on boro cultivation.

He said, a multi-sectoral meeting held here yesterday with Divisional Commissioner, Hossain Jamil in the chair, has taken decision to monitor the boro cultivation even at union levels by engaging officials of other government departments at upazila headquarter.