In order to save Boro paddy from adverse weather, farmers of different areas of Hakaluki Haor in Moulvibazar are being urged to cut the paddy quickly.
In this regard announcements are being made using mikes in the area at the initiative of local Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
The DAE officials said the miking campaign will continue till the entire paddy is harvested. On Monday, the camapaign was carried in different areas of Hakaluki Haor in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Abdul Momen confirmed the matter.
He said that according to the meteorological office, there is a possibility of heavy rain including cyclone in the coming days. Boro paddy can be damaged due to storms and rains. Therefore, announcements are going on so that the crop is not ruined due to natural calamities.
Abdul Halim, a farmer in Hakaluki Haor, said the paddy was ripe but he had been waiting for a few more days to ripen better, but it was raining at night, which was scary. Due to the miking of the agriculture department, he and many others were encouraged to cut their paddies.
According to the local DAE, on 57,345 hectors of land Boro paddy have been planted in Moulvibazar this year. It will produce about 2 lakh 18 thousand metric tonnes of rice.
Kazi Lutful Bari, Deputy Director of District DAE, said a record production of boro paddy would be received in Moulvibazar this year if the weather remains favorable till the end. We are encouraging the farmers to cut the paddy quickly so that the paddy is not wasted due to the bad weather.
Meanwhile, farmers in Hail Haor and Kawadighi Haor areas in the districts like Hakaluki grow boro paddy in the fields depending on the nature. But already the natural calamity including norwester and hailstorm has started in Moulvibazar.
The farmers are anxious thinking of the labor crisis during the Corona period. However, the administration says they are aware of this and have taken effective action.In this regard, Deputy Commissioner Mir Nahid Ahsan said, the district administration and the agriculture department are by the farmer’s side so that the farmers can bring the ripe paddy home on time.
Regarding the labour crisis due to corona, we have already taken initiative to involve tea workers in Boro harvesting, he added.
