Zafarul Sadique, Sariakandi (Bogura)

Farmers are spending busy time in harvesting and threshing paddy in Sariakandi, Bogra. Due to the favorable weather, there has been a bumper crop of transplanted Aush paddy in the upazila.

In 12 unions of the upazila, the farmers are now spending busy time to collect the golden rice from the field. Paddy harvesting and threshing is going on in full swing. The local agriculture department is hopeful of achieving the production target.

After harvesting Ropa Aush paddy, the farmers will plant local variety of Ropa Aman paddy in that land. The agriculture department also said that rabi crop mustard will be cultivated on some of these lands. Farmers said that due to lack of rain, they had to irrigate more crops this time. In addition, more pesticides have to be applied to attack insects.

This year, the production cost of rice has increased due to the increase in the price of fertilizers, pesticides and fuel oil. Last year, Aush was planted at a cost of 4-5 thousand rupees. Additional irrigation has to be given due to lack of rain since the beginning of this year. In addition, due to the attack of crop insects, pesticides have to be applied. Again, the cost of production of rice has increased due to the increase in the price of fertilizers, pesticides and fuel oil. Due to this, one and a half to two thousand rupees have been spent on each disturbance. Where the cost of crop production is 6-7 thousand rupees.

Alamgir Hossain, a farmer of Indurmara Char of Karnibari Union of the upazila, said that this year we have planted aush paddy on three bigha of land. Last year it cost 4-5 thousand rupees to plant. Due to lack of rain since the beginning of this year, the land has to be irrigated more. Increase in the price of fertilizers, oil and pesticides has cost about one and a half to two thousand rupees more per bigha. About 6-7 thousand rupees per bigha has been spent to cultivate it. And the yield per bigha is 11-12 maunds. According to the information of the Upazila Agriculture Office, 7,20 hectares of land have been cultivated this year.

Sariakandi Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Halim said, farmers are benefiting from planting rice paddy in the fallow land of Char area for the last few years as per the advice of the Upazila Agriculture Office. After harvesting Ropa Aush paddy, farmers will cultivate mustard, plant Ropa Aman paddy. This year there has been a good yield of Ropa Aush paddy in the upazila.