The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Gaibandha

The government has taken up a massive programme to cultivate Boro paddy in the district during the current season.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said the government took a plan to plant Boro paddy on 1,06,440 hectares in the district at the initial stage.

Later, additional 6,205 hectares of uncultivated land have been brought under the programme with a production target of 20,090 metric tons to recover the losses caused by floods in last year.

Now target has been fixed to cultivate Boro paddy on 1,12,645 hectares in 7 upazilas of the district to produce 4,59,049 metric tons of rice, the DAE sources said.

Out of the total land 75,345 hectares have been brought under high yielding variety, 35,400 hectares under hybrid variety and 1900 hectares under the local variety, sources said.

Deputy Director of DAE ANM Mizanur Rahman Amin told BSS Correspondent that 81 per cent of the land has already been planted and the rest would be finished within 10 days.

To make the programme a success, the government has distributed necessary agriculture inputs including quality Boro seeds, fertilisers and ensured of supply of electricity and fuel for irrigation.

After visiting some villages of the district it is seen that the farmers of the district are now busy preparing their land for raising seedlings and transplanting those in the fields.

On the other hand, the members of joint forces led by Major Mizan, commander of Gaibandha Army Camp, have been monitoring the overall progress of Boro cultivation and supply of fertilisers, electricity and other agri-inputs to the farmers.