Farmers have begun cultivation of high valued crop Boro paddy in all the seven upazilas of the district during the current season amid much enthusiasm.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target of bringing a total of 130,200 hectares of land under the Boro cultivation this year with the production target of 5,35,000 metric tons of clean rice.
The farmers have already prepared seed beds on 7,500 hectares of low land as the seedlings have grown well.
Though the green seedlings are being affected due to chilly wind and dense fog sweeping across the northern region including Gaibandha district, the DAE took precautionary measures to protect the seedlings from cold injuries.
Different banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank have taken up plans to disburse agri loans to the growers on easy term during the season to facilitate the cultivation, officials said.
To fulfill the cultivation target, necessary measures had been taken to supply fertilizers, insecticides, and other agri inputs to the farmers at fair prices with ensuring power supply facility by Northern Electric Supply Company and Rural Electrification Board, said an official of DAE.
Bangladesh Barind Development Authority has also made their 460 electricity run deep tube wells and 45 low lift pumps fully operative to help supply water as irrigation to the farmers at reasonable prices, said executive engineer Azadul Islam.