<i>Netrakona farmers expect bumper Boro output </i>
Agriculture officials instructing farmers on techniques of checking pests at Shibganj in Durgapur upazila in Netrakona. Photo: STAR
Farmers of the district are expecting an all-time record and bumper Boro production this season.
They cultivated their Boro lands in large scale exceeding the target to recoup losses of Aman crops caused by last year's recurrent floods.
According to the Department Agriculture Extension (DAE), about 1,66,135 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation in 10 upazilas of the district in the current season exceeding the official target of 1,44,600 hectares.
Boro paddy is the only main cash crop in the district, mainly in haor areas. Farmers of all the 10 upazilas in the district have shown their increased interest in boro cultivation in the current season. The government motivation as well as high market price of rice has been attributed to the wide-scale Boro cultivation this season.
Upazila-wise break-up of Boro cultivation is as follows: About 255 hectares in Khaliazuri upazila, 24,220 hectares in Mohanganj upazila, 26,350 hectares in Madan upazila, 14,650 hectares in Kendua upazila, 16,500 hectares in Atpara upazila, 12,500 hectares in Purbadhala upazila, 10,800 hectares in Durgapur upazila, 10,200 hectares in Kalmakanda upazila, 10,300 hectares in Barhatta upazila and 14,700 hectares in Netrakona Sadar upazila.
Deputy Director of DAE, Netrakona RIM Aminul Islam Siddiki said,'We have been conducting our duties by providing necessary advice to the field level farmers. We arranged 10/12 farmers' gatherings in each upazila and opened block based fertilizer sale centres to make Boro farming a success.'
DAE further said they are encouraging farmers to use `guti urea' following rule of using balanced fertilizer and leaf colour chart. They received 5,200 tonnes of urea fertilizer till early March against their requirement of 16,935 tonnes for the current Boro season. He said they had requested the authorities concerned to supply rest of urea by this month. Besides, distribution of quality seeds, fertilizers and other agri-inputs helped in farming Boro crop in the district.
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