The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 6,22,090 tonnes of wheat from 2,39,150 hectares of land in the country's 16 northern districts under Rajshahi division during the current season.

According to the DAE sources, a total of 3,04,590 tonnes of wheat are expected to be produced from 1,17,150 hectares in eight districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone and 3,17,500 tonnes from 1,22,000 hectares in another eight districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone this year. Officials concerned are expecting to achieve the fixed target of the current season as huge motivational activities are being conducted and the farmers are being provided with quality wheat seeds, fertilizers and other necessary inputs for the purpose, the sources said. The officials are expecting to achieve the fixed target of the current season as motivational activities are being conducted, the sources said.

The farmers are now busy in land preparation works everywhere with harvesting of early varieties of paddy and in many places, seeding has started to get the existing soil moisture. From November 15 to November 30 is the optimum time for showing wheat seed. The sources said, the departments concerned, including the DAE, the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Adequate training, technical assistances, inputs, high yielding seeds and agri- loans are being provided to the farmers under different programmes of different government and non-government organizations.

The DAE fixed target for producing the wheat in the region could not be achieved during the last five consecutive seasons due to various reasons, including diversification of crop farming and less interest of farmers, the sources added.

During the last rabi season, the DAE fixed the target for producing 4,91,507 tonnes of wheat from 2,84,108 hectares in the northern districts but it failed to reach the target.

Wheat will be cultivated in 28,000 hectares in Rajshahi, 24,000 hectares in Natore, 13,000 hectares in Naogaon, 17,000 hectares in Chapainawabganj, 28,000 hectares in Pabna, 4,000 hectares in Sirajganj, 18,000 hectares in Bogra and 1350 hectares in Joypurhat, 5,500 hectares in Rangpur, 4,000 hectares in Gaibandha, 3,000 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 6,000 hectares in Nilphamari, 14,000 hectares in Kurigram, 24,500 hectares in Dinajpur, 14,000 hectares in Panchagarh and 51,500 hectares in Thakurgaon.

Principal Scientific Office of Regional Wheat Research Centre Dr Naresh Chandra Deb Barma here today told BSS that the actual output might cross the fixed target this season as the farmers have got bumper production of wheat and higher market price last year.

"We have been providing four high yielding wheat seeds-shatabdi, sufi, bijoy and prodip among the farmers level and the growers are very much happy over getting the seed," Barma said adding that there has been a bright prospect of expanding wheat farming in the vast tract of barind area as huge land remain fellow after harvesting of t-aman every year.