One-fifth of Boro in haor areas harvested

Farmers in the haor regions harvested nearly one-fifth of their Boro paddy as of yesterday, according to an estimate by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Growers planted paddy on 452,000 hectares of land in the haor areas, comprising seven districts, this year, said a senior official of the DAE.

The haor regions account for 16 per cent of the total production of the Boro crop and usually remain vulnerable to flash floods just ahead of the beginning of the harvest or during the harvesting period.

This year, the onrush of water submerged more than 7,000 hectares of Boro crop land in the haor region, which comprises Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kishoreganj. Farmers earlier said most of their paddy in the field will be damaged by the inundation.

Farmers in Sunamganj harvested Boro paddy from 20,000 hectares of land.

"Growers would be able to harvest all of their crops within two weeks if the present weather condition prevails," said DAE Deputy Director FM Mobarak Ali.

In order to support farmers, 371 combine harvesters are being used in three haor upazilas of the district, he said.

Our Mymensingh correspondent contributed to the report