Special Boro Cultivation programme in 16-N-dists

NATORE, Jan 1: Government has undertaken a special programme to bring some 11.56 lakh hectares of land in 16 northern districts under Boro paddy cultivation this season, fixing the output target at 33.27 lakh mts, reports UNB.

Four government organisations - Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), Power Development Board (PDB) and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation - will implement the programme.

A supplementary scheme, aiming to produce some 11 lakh mts of wheat from 4.81 lakh hectares of land in the districts, has also been brought under the special programme to boost the production.

PCB sources said over 12,000 diesel-driven deep tubewells, 14,000 power-driven irrigation pumps, 2.20 lakh diesel-run shallow tubewells and one floating pump would be in operation in the region to provide irrigation facility.

They said over 2.86 lakh mts of diesel would be needed for operation of the pumps.

To keep diesel supply smooth and uninterrupted in the region, BPC has taken measures, including a permanent reserve of 80,000 mts of diesel in its Chittagong depot till the season-end.

Similarly, minimum 15,000 mts of diesel will be stored at Baghabari in Sirajganj at the initial stage of the season.

Steps have also been taken to store diesel at Chilmari floating and Balashighat depots and other depots in Nature, Rangpur, Parbatipur and Rajshahi.

Meanwhile, DAE has started distributing quality crops, seeds and seedlings among the farmers.

Another report from Chapainawabganj says: With a bumper Aman output on its heels, Agricultural Extension Department has undertaken a massive IRRI-Boro cultivation programme in 16 northern districts.

Officials said some 11.56 lakh hectares of land in the districts will be brought under IRRI-Boro cultivation with a production target of 16.82 lakh metric tons.

IRRI-Boro will be cultivated on 47,780 hectares of land in Rajshahi district while 35,440 in Chapainawabganj, 1.46 lakh in Naogaon 57,470 in Natore, 1.77 lakh in Bogra, 47,780 in Pabna, 81,740 in Rangpur, 61,000 hectares in Joypurhat districts.

Besides, some 63,330 hectares of land will be cultivated in Kurigram, 83,350 in Gaibandha, 35,150 in Lalmonirhat, 55,578 in Sirajganj, 56,240 in Nilphamari, 1.12 lakh in Dinajpur, 36,150 in Thakurgaon, 14,940 hectares in Panchagarh districts.