Average production of paddy decreases, Boro sees rise
Within over a decade, average production of paddy has decreased in Pirojpur though it is one of the important districts in growing paddy in the southern areas of the country. But of the Aus, Aman and Boro, the production of Boro has increased during this period.
According to a statistic of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Pirojpur, in the fiscal year 2005-2006, Aus paddy was cultivated on 23,790 hectares of land, Aman on 70,390 hectares of land and Boro on 17,000 hectares.
In the fiscal year 2019-2020, Aus was cultivated on 17,540 hectares of land, Aman on 64,180 hectares of land and Boro on 19,581 hectares.
Farmers said because of decreasing paddy fields, the cultivation of Aus and Aman has decreased.
On the other hand, the growers are being interested in cultivating Boro paddy as new varieties have been invented and irrigation facility is available.
"Now you will find unplanned houses and gardens available where there were paddy fields around ten years ago. Thus, paddy cultivable land has been vanished," said grower Abdul Halim from Togra village in Pirojpur's Indurkani upazila.
The farmers also said that with the development of road communication, the value of roadside paddy fields is increasing. Due to this, the owners are using the lands for different commercial purposes. Shops and houses are being constructed there.
Farmers have also said that within three to four years of making vegetable garden heightening land inside paddy field, it has turned into wooden orchards that hamper the production of adjacent paddy fields.
Then other farmers are compelled to make orchards there leaving paddy cultivation.
Mainul Ahsan Munna, executive director of Royal Bengal Foundation in Pirojpur, said the government has taken many initiatives for the development in agriculture sectors.
"If wastage of farmland cannot be saved, the development of agriculture sector will be hampered," he said.
He also urged the government not to allow any farmland for non-productive activities.
Chinmoy Roy, deputy director of DAE in Pirojpur, said paddy fields are being decreased as they are being used for development works and other purposes like brick kiln construction.
"Wastage of cultivable land is creating pressure on paddy field," he said, adding that attempt of inventing new variety of paddy is going on to cope up with the demand of paddy.
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