In the Haor area of Kishoreganj, which is known as the paddy district, Boro cultivation is going on in full swing.
Ignoring the severe winter, farmers have started cultivating their lands with utmost care. The activity of the farmers is going on from dawn to dusk in the whole Haor region. As far as the eyes can see there is only green paddy fields to be seen.
The Haor area covers up four upazilas of the district, Itna, Mithamain, Austagram and Nikli. According to Kushoreganj Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), in the Haor area, there is about one lakh hectares of cultivable land in total.
Boro cultivation target has been set for a total of 1 lakh 64 thousand 494 hectares of land all over the district. Boro has already been planted on 400 hectares of land in the district. Whereas, the production target has been set at 7 lakh 2 thousand 671 metric tones.
Of that, Boro paddy will be cultivated on 26,205 hectares in Itna, 16,830 hectares in Mithamin, 23,424 hectares in Ashtagram, 13,985 hectares in Nikli, 7,695 hectares in Hossainpur, 8,878 hectares in Kishoreganj Sadar, 10,095 hectares in Pakundia, 12,760 hectares in Katiadi, 9,710 hectares in Karimganj, 10,335 hectares in Tarail, 12,111 hectares in Bajitpur, 6,221 hectares in Kuliarchare and 6,245 hectares in Bhairab in the district.
Several farmers in the Haor said that the paddy they grow includes local varieties, Ufshi and hybrid varieties. However, this year Ufshi paddy is being planted extensively.
Boro paddy is the only source of livelihood for the people living around the Haor. The paddy produced in this area is also exported to different parts of the country after meeting the needs of the district. But the lion's share of the crop that the poor and marginal farmers of the region grow with loans and leases goes on paying the debt.
As a result, within a couple of months of harvesting, these poor, marginal farmers and peasants becomes penniless and they have to live on half-starvation with their families by selling labor and borrowing money. However, farmers are hoping that the weather will be favorable this year and they will get a bumper yield of paddy. Then the farmers will be able to forget the crisis of loans and agricultural inputs with a smile on their face.
According to sources, Boro paddy is cultivated in all the 13 upazilas of the district but due to geo-natural conditions, the highest amount of Boro paddy is produced in Itna, Mithamoin, Austagram and Nikli upazilas inhabited by Haors.
Haor region has the potential to produce bumper Boro yield every year unless there is a natural disaster. However, even with the possibility of bumper yields, farmers remain anxious until the crop is harvested. Sometimes, early floods and landslides submerge the golden paddy of the local farmers. In the midst of so many risks, now the only thought of the farmers is to take care of their land so that their crops are not harmed under any circumstances.
Md. Saiful Alam, Deputy Director at the Kishoreganj Department of Agricultural Extension, said that this year there is a huge interest among the farmers as they are getting fair prices. Hopefully we will get more yield than the target set by the government.
