Low price worries Boro growers

BOGURA, May 14: Grassroots Boro growers in the district are worried over acute low price of their newly-harvested produce.

Some growers said, "We have achieved bumper yield of Boro but we are not getting fair price."

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources, over 1,97,850 hectares of land were brought under the production of Boro in the district this season.

Farmers in the 12 upazilas cultivated super hybrid SL-8, BRI-28-29, BRI 47 and BINA-10 varieties abundantly, DAE officials added.

Around five tonnes to six tonnes of paddy have been harbested from a hectare of land. The amount was double for the super hybrid varieties, some growers said.

"A maund of Boro paddy is selling at Tk 500 in the local market. It does not even cover our production cost", they added.

Nearly 70 per cent paddy has already been harvested amid acute labour shortage. Growers can make profit if the price rises to Tk 700 to Tk 800 per maund.

Although the government has announced to procure paddy at Tk 28 per kg, but the drive is yet to start.

Deputy director of DAE Nikhil Chandra said, "We are working to make sure that the farmers get fair price."

Meanwhile, BSS adds: In Jamalpur, Boro harvesting has began in the district with much expectation of bumper production as a result of favourable weather condition, absence of pest attack, availability of fertiliser and irrigation as well as close monitoring of the agriculture department.

Farmers already harvested Boro paddy on 32,283 hectares of land, assistant deputy director of DAE Md Nuruzzaman said, adding, this year farmers cultivated Boro on 1,29,130 hectares of land with a production target of 5,23,937 tonnes of  rice in the district.

Farmers cultivated Boro paddy of 61 hybrid varieties, 29 high yielding varieties and 15 local varieties.

DAE office sources said most of the farmers cultivated BRRI-29, BRRI-58 and BRRI-28 varieties. BRRI-29 was cultivated on 49,426 hectares, BRRI-58 on 19,880 hectares and BRRI-28 on 18,594 hectares.

In Manikganj, secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Md Nasiruzzaman inaugurated harvesting of BRRI Dhan-89 and BRRI Dhan-81 on Monday last as the chief guest in Bhatbaoir village under Dighi Union of Manikganj Sadar of the district.

Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir, Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), S M Ferdous, Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj and Md Habibur Rahman Chowdhury Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agriculture Extension, among others, were present in the function with Dr Md Abdul Muid, Dhaka Regional Director (Confines Wing) in the chair.

Besides, In Panchagarh, farmers of Panchagarh district are expecting bumper production of Boro as a result of favourable weather condition throughout the season.

Supply of agricultural components such as seeds, fertiliser and pesticide in due time and affordable price also helped achieve such good yield this year.

DAE sources said, 80 per cent deep tube wells and shallow pumps were engaged this year for irrigation by using electricity while rest of others used diesel.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Deputy Director Md Ali told this news agency this year's target of cultivating Boro in 38,000 hectares of land with production target of 1,51,308 tonnes.

Bipul Chandra, a farmer of Shahapara village under Debiganj upazila said he cultivated Boro in one acre of land where the plants are growing excellently.