The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Barisal

Production of the Boro paddy is likely to surpass all previous records this year as the harvesting of the paddy begun in 11 southern districts under Barisal Agriculture Extension Zone (BAEZ).

According to official sources, monitoring by block supervisors and agriculturists, favourable climate, and distributions of high-yielding varieties of seeds, fertilisers, insecticides and other inputs in time resulted in the all-time- high Boro production.

With the increase in marketing facilities of the paddy helped the farmers to become more enthusiastic for cultivating the crop on more and more land in future.

On an average, over 25 percent of the paddy was harvested in the mean time in the districts till Monday and altogether 3.73 tonnes of clean rice were produced per hectare. A total of 4,02,973 hectares of land was brought under Boro cultivation and at least 15,03,742 tonnes of clean rice would be harvested this year in the region, which is 1,61,337 tonnes more than the target.

Of the total, 50,339 hectares were brought under hybrid variety of Boro cultivation, 3,29,176 hectares under upashi variety and the rest 23,458 hectares under high-yielding local variety.

Altogether, 63,750 hectares were cultivated in Barisal district, 8,416 hectares in Jhalakathi, 16,735 hectares in Pirojpur, 5,155 hectares in Patuakhali, 567 hectares in Barguna, 48,540 hectares in Bhola, 36,975 hectares in Faridpur, 46,690 hectares in Madaripur, 75,075 hectares in Gopalgonj, 20,900 hectares in Rajbari and 36,935 hectares in Shariatpur districts. The harvesting estimate found that 4.84 tonnes of clean hybrid boro rice have been produced per hectare, 3.75 tonnes of upashi variety per hectare and 2.60 tonnes of local variety per hectare, which broke all the previous records. Starting on April 20 last, the harvesting of the crops is going on in full swing in all the 11 southern districts of BAEZ areas and will be completed by June 15 next. DAE, BADC, BRRI and NGOs had been implementing several production-oriented projects here this year aiming at achieving supper bumper production of this cash crop this year.

Agriculture Extension Department (AED) implemented 'Integrated Area Development Project (IADP)', 'Small Hold Support Project (SHSP)' and 'Greater Barisal-Patuakhali Integrated Agriculture Development Project (GBPIADP)' for enhancing the production of the paddy.

Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) sold over 92 lakh kgs of the high yielding varieties of seeds among the farmers at a retail price for boosting production.

Besides, BADC provided necessary fertilisers, insecticides and other inputs for the farmers. Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) along with different commercial banks disbursed necessary agriculture loans among poor, small and marginal farmers in the zone.

While contacted, Additional Director (AD) of BAEZ Mollah Safiar Rahman told this correspondent that the production target for the Boro paddy was surpassed this year as the farmers were very enthusiastic due to necessary supports.