Shameem Reza Dafrul, Gobindaganj (Gaibandha)

Farmers are busy with Boro cultivation in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha. They are rushing from field to field after picking up seedlings from the seedbed. Scenes of Boro cultivation are now visible in the villages of the upazila. Boro paddy cultivation activities have been going on across the fields since January.

Agricultural workers said that planting of Boro paddy seedlings has started in the fields on a large scale. They had to work hard even in the severe winter. Even though it is difficult, the planting of seedlings must be completed within time. If Boro paddy seedlings are not planted on time, the yield will not be good. We have gone down to the field for a good yield.

According to sources from the Gobindaganj Upazila Agriculture Office, a target of 31,098 hectares of land has been set for Iri-Boro cultivation in 1 municipality and 17 unions of Gobindaganj Upazila during the current Iri-Boro season.

The target for cultivation of rice varieties like Jirashail, Parija, Bri-28, 29, 50 and BR 10 has been set on these lands.

Due to favorable weather conditions in the past season and affordable costs including fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, etc., there was a bumper harvest in Iri-Boro cultivation. Although the price of rice was a little low at first, the price of rice later increased, and farmers made a profit by selling the rice. Meanwhile, farmers say that due to the successive increases in the price of agricultural inputs, Boro farmers in the upazila are struggling to meet the cost of Iri-Boro cultivation.

They are in extreme financial difficulty. Due to this, farmers are worried about the expensive Boro cultivation.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Mehedi Hasan said that farmers in every village of the upazila are currently engaged in Boro cultivation. If the weather is favorable, there is a possibility of bumper harvest this time too. For this, various suggestions are being given to farmers at the field level, including pest control.