Ten South-Western Districts
Farmers eye bumper Irri-boro
Nearly matured plants in a paddy field at Barkhada village of Kushtia Sadar upazila shows signs of good yield. Farmers and agriculture officials are expecting a bumper production of Irri-boro paddy in 10 districts of Khulna division due to favourable weather condition and timely supply of fertiliser.Photo: STAR
Farmers and agriculture officials are expecting bumper production of Irri-boro paddy in 10 south-western districts under Khulna division in the current season. The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set production target of 34,34,506.5 tonnes of boro paddy in 10 districts under Khulna division this season, reports our correspondent from Kushtia. This is 1,04,476.5 tonnes higher than last year's, said DAE officials, adding that this time farmers have cultivated boro on 6,07,470 hectares of land in the 10 districts while it was 5,84,497 hectares last year. Of the 10 districts -- Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jhenidah, Magura, Jessore, Narail, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Khulna, Jessore sees the highest target of 1,56,920 hectares of land for boro cultivation. Target areas in other districts are 86,325 hectares in Jhenidah, 44,480 hectares in Magura, 44,390 hectares in Narail, 50,025 hectares in Khulna, 47,385 hectares in Bagerhat, 73,985 hectares in Satkhira, 37,460 hectares in Kushtia and 40,550 hectares in Chuadanga, and the lowest 25,950 hectares in Meherpur. Hybrid boro will be cultivated on 1,86,385 hectares, high yielding varieties on 4,15,630 hectares and local varieties on 5,455 hectares of land. "Farmers are getting all kinds of support including subsidised fertilisers and necessary electricity," Abdul Mannan, additional director of DAE, Khulna division in Jessore, told this correspondent over phone. As this correspondent contacted DAE officials in other districts over phone, they shared similar views, saying that they got reports of good cultivation mainly because of favourable weather, proper irrigation facilities and supply of fertiliser. The farmers have planted different types of paddy like Brri-28, 45, 33, 50, 26, 39, Hira, super hybrid, Madhumati, Aftab, Aloran, Tyia, Ratna, Kajal Lata IR-50, GS, Kargil, agriculture officials said. This time 7 to 12 percent extra yields is expected if there is no natural calamity, said Md Lutfar Rahman, deputy director of DAE regional office in Kushtia. During this correspondent's visit to some areas in Meherpur, Chuadanga and Kushtia, farmers said fertilisers are available this time. According to DAE sources, the government fixed Tk 1000 per bag (50 kg) of urea, TSP at Tk 110 (which was Tk 600 in last year), DAP at Tk 1350 (which was Tk 1250 in last year) and MoP at Tk 750 (which was same in last year). Farmers, however, expressed grave concern over power supply and high price for water supplied by pump owners. Besides they had to buy saplings for high prices. "We have to wait even two or three days for supply water in the paddy fields," Asadur Rahman, a farmer of Gangni in Meherpur told this correspondent on Friday. Several farmers said they are to pay one-fourth of reaped paddy for supplying water to one bigha of land from the time of starting cultivation process in the field. On an average, one-fourth of reaped paddy amounts to four maunds and its price is Tk 3000 to 3400. Farmers termed the price too high while the pump owners showed plea of diesel price hike. The additional director of DAE Khulna division, however, said around 18,000 more shallow pumps have been added to about 54,000 existing ones this season and it helped to bring about additional 15,000 hectares of land under cultivation. “Stern action will be taken if there is specific allegation of price manipulation by the dealers. Monitoring committees in every district are looking after the matter,” he said. Our Satkhira Correspondent adds: Farmers are expecting a bumper yield from Irri-boro cultivation in flood affected Tala upazila under the district this season. With hope to recoup the losses of aman paddy damage due to persisting water logging, farmers planted Irri-boro saplings with the help of sweet water from canals, ponds and other water bodies about a month ago. Due to favourable weather conditions and easy availability of seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs, the target of cultivation has been exceeded as the farmers cultivated Irri-boro on 16,000 hectares of land out of 24,440 hectares of cultivable land in Tala upazila, said DAE sources. Due to massive deposition of silt and consequent loss of depth, the Kabodak River lost its capacity to hold water and it resulted in serious flooding and water logging in vast areas of Tala upazila since 2005. "As the soil fertility increased due to inundation by flood water from the Kabodak River, the land now requires less amount of urea fertiliser for Irri-boro cultivation," said Mafidul Islam of Amtalardanga village in Tala upazila. Agriculture officials said they are providing cooperation to the farmers for the cultivation.
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