Netrakona haor farmers see bumper Boro production

Farmers of haor areas in Netrakona are all smiles as they are hopeful of getting bumper production of Boro paddy, which will help them make up for the losses they suffered during the devastating flood last year.

Last year's flash flood destroyed almost all of the Boro crops in Khaliajury and Mohanganj upazilas.

With board smiles on their faces, farmers of the upazilas started harvesting their crop 15 to 20 days ago, hoping for bumper production this year, said Khaliajury Sadar union Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Aminul Islam Khan.

“We advised the farmers to cultivate BRRI-28 as the variety ripens quickly,” said Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Shafiqul Islam,.

Harvesting will be completed within another 15 days to 20 days and the farmers will get a bumper production if there are no natural calamities, he added.

Ajit Das of Baniapara village in Khaliajury, who cultivated Boro on nine acres of land, said production is higher than in previous years. It will help make up for last year's huge loss, he added.

Kobindra Sarker of Ballabhpur village said he also hopes for a bumper production from his 15 acres of land.

Krishnapur Union Parishad Chairman Nazim Uddin Sarker said local people could not enjoy their religious and traditional celebrations, including Pahela Baishakh, after last year's flood.

Special prayers are being organised at different places seeking God's blessings for the safety of their produce, the chairman added.

“It was a painful scene in the haor areas last year, and I never saw such a crisis in the area,” said 85-year-old Solaiman Mia of Kalyanpur village. 

“We had to pass our days in great hardship, but now we hope for a good harvest and enjoyment with our families this year,” said Abu Hanif of the village.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and district administration visited the haor areas recently.

District DAE Deputy Director Bilash Chandra Pal said 81,328 hectares of land were brought under Boro cultivation with a production target of 71,700 tonnes of paddy this year, but the cultivation target exceeded that and they are hoping for a bumper production.

He also said around 70,000 farmers of haor areas, mainly in Khaliajury and Mohanganj, were supported with seeds, fertilizers and cash.