Due to favourable weather conditions, low pest attacks and cultivation of high-yielding varieties, the production of Boro paddy has increased in Ishwardi, Pabna.
Farmers of the upazila have started harvesting paddy from the fields of the upazila. They are threshing the paddy and taking it home. Boro paddy seedlings were planted in December-January last year. The weather has been suitable for Boro cultivation. In addition, due to the supervision of field-level agriculture officers and regular care of farmers, the yield has been as expected, said Agricultural officers and farmers. The yield per hectare has increased and the yield in Ishwardi has exceeded the target of 5,000 metric tons of paddy.
Meanwhile, a sample harvest of Boro paddy was held last Monday afternoon in the Boro paddy field of Ista village in Ishwardi municipal area, organized by the Department of Agriculture Extension, Ishwardi. Upazila Agriculture Officers and farmers participated in this crop harvesting activities.
According to the Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture office, the target for the current season was 2,775 hectares of land for Boro cultivation. The previous year , Boro cultivation was done on 2,650 hectares of land. This year, the area under cultivation has increased by 125 hectares. The production target was set at 14,000 metric tons. However, due to favorable weather conditions, the overall production will increase by 5,000 metric tons to 19,425 metric tons. Boro rice is cultivated in seven unions of the upazila, including the municipal area, namely Sada, Paksey, Muladuli, Salimpur, Dashuria, Sahapur and Lokunda. Boro rice is produced more in Muladuli Union.
Aliuzzaman, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Muladuli Union said that in total of 550 hectares of land, Boro rice has been cultivated in Muladuli Union of the upazila. Farmers here have cultivated Boro rice varieties of Bri-Dhan 29, 89, 92, 100 and 104. He said that this time there has been a bumper harvest of Boro rice. Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Sujan Kumar Roy said," The fields are full in only Boro paddy. The farmers are very happy to get the expected yield. We are also very happy with them."
Anisur Rahman Adam, a farmer from Ista village in the municipal area has cultivated Bri-Dhan 29 varieties on 20 bighas of land this time. He said that since planting Boro paddy seedlings in the field in December-January, the paddy plants have grown without any problems including diseases and pests. He said that this time the paddy has been very good. Paddy harvesting is nearing its end. All the paddy will be harvested in a week. When asked how much was spent on cultivating 20 bighas, how much will be cultivated, and whether there will be any profit, farmer Anisur Rahman said that there is not much profit. He said that 18-20 maunds of paddy are being obtained per bigha. He spent Taka 20,000 for cultivating paddy in per bigha of land.
The cost of cultivation is 4 lakh taka. The production target is about 400 maunds.
The selling price of 29 paddy per maund in the local market is 1200 taka. Accordingly, the total price of 400 maunds of paddy will be 4 lakh 80 thousand
taka. The profit will be 80 thousand taka. Apart from Anisur Rahman, local farmers said that this time the Boro paddy cultivation has been quite good compared to other years because the weather is
favorable . When the weather is bad, Boro paddy does not grow that well. They said that the cultivation of Boro paddy per bigha has increased. Since the Bri Dhan-29 variety is good, the paddy production per bigha has been 18 to 20 maunds. Those who have cultivated more land will benefit more. Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishibid Mita Sarkar said that after waiting for five months, farmers are busy harvesting Boro paddy in the fields . The weather of this Boro season was completely favorable for Boro. The weather was not that bad. Apart from this, farmers have planted seedlings on time and the incidence of diseases, pests and insects has been very good. He said that this time the yield per hectare has increased.
Although the target is 14 thousand metric tons, due to the increase in production, the production can increase by 5 thousand metric tons and stand at 19 thousand 425 metric tons. He hopes that all the farmers who have cultivated Boro rice this time will benefit.
