Record Boro rice production likely in Rangpur region

An all-time record Boro rice production is likely in Rangpur agriculture region where farmers have exceeded the fixed farming target for the crop following various effective steps taken by the government this season.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said tender Boro rice plants are growing excellent now giving an eye-catching greener look to crop fields amid favourable climatic conditions predicting a super bumper rice output in the region.

The DAE has fixed a target of producing 21.54 lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice (32.31 lakh tonnes of paddy) from 4.96 lakh hectares of land during the current Rabi season for all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region.

“Braving the coronavirus pandemic, farmers have finally cultivated Boro rice on 5.03 lakh hectares of land, 1.21 percent higher than the fixed farming target,” said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Khandker Abdul Wahed.

Getting requisite assistance from the government under the post-flood agriculture rehabilitation programme, flood-hit farmers have brought more lands under Boro rice cultivation to recoup the crop losses they incurred during the last year’s floods.

“If the climatic conditions would remain favourable during the next couple of months, farmers will get a super bumper production of Boro rice as tender rice plants are growing superbly across the region now,” Wahed said.

To make the intensive Boro rice farming programme a success, the DAE and other related organisations are working relentlessly to ensure smooth irrigation, supply of fuels, fertilisers and electricity and other facilities to farmers this season.

To enhance Boro rice yield at lower costs reducing lifting of underground water in the region, a target has been fixed to bring one-lakh hectares of land under Boro rice farming adopting the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method this season.

“Besides, targets have been fixed to bring 47,432 hectares of land under use of compost fertilisers, 2.84 lakh hectares under use of balanced fertilisers and 5.03 lakh hectares under preaching method this season in the region,” Wahed added.

In the perching method, farmers set up bamboo poles or branches of trees at regular intervals in Boro rice fields so that birds can alight or roost on those and eat harmful insects on rice plants helping farmers combating pests’ attacks naturally.

In light trap natural pest management method, farmers put pots filled with a mixture of water and detergent under a source of light on Boro rice fields. Being attracted by the reflection of light at night, harmful insects fall into the pots and consequently die.

Talking to BSS, farmer Ariful Haque of village Najirdigar in Rangpur Sadar upazila said farmers are working with utmost dedication understanding that the government has given priority on achieving self- reliance on production of rice and other food grains.

He thanked the government for ensuring smooth supply of fertilisers, pesticides, diesel, power and irrigation and other necessary inputs and facilities to farmers for making the Boro rice farming programme successful.

Farmer Mofizar Rahman of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur said Boro rice plants, now in flowering stage, are growing superbly on crop fields predicting a bumper production of the crop.