The farmers of Ishwardi in Pabna are happy as the Boro yield exceeded the target this year. Local Department of Agricultural Extension said the Boro production was 200 metric tons more than the expected yield this season.The Agriculture Officers said the reasons for the high yield are favorable weather, supply of paddy seeds and fertilizers for free of cost to the farmers at the beginning of the season as agricultural incentives, hard work and intensive farming of the farmers. Many farmers of the area said the Boro yield was better this season than the previous years.
Sources from the office of the Ishwardi Agriculture Officer said the expected target of Boro yield this season was set at 12,668 metric tons at 2,780 hectares of land. However, the yield was 12,868 metric tons which is 200 metric tons more than the expectation. Paddy is cultivated in the seven unions of the upazila. Moreover, it is also cultivated in some municipality areas of the upazila. Farmer Anisur Rahman from Ista Village of Ishwardi municipality areas said he hasn’t completed harvesting paddy from his land yet. The yield of paddy this year is higher compared to the last year. Anisur Rahman cultivated paddy in 9 bighas of land this season. He also received free seeds and fertilizer as incentives. Around 20 to 22 maunds of paddy are produced in one bigha of land. The production cost of paddy in per bigha of land is Tk 8,000 to Tk 9,000, including the additional costs. He is selling per maund of paddy at Tk 900 to the traders while they are still in the land. If they were sold in the market, he could make profit of Tk 200 more per maund. But, he sold his paddy in less profit while they were still in the field to avoid some extra hassles, said Anisur Rahman. He will still make a profit of Tk 8,000 to Tk 9,000 from every bigha of land, he added.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said Boro paddy was cultivated in 2,780 hectares of land this season and the yield was 200 metric tons more than the expected target. When the Agriculture Officer was asked about the reasons for the high yield this year, she said that it’s because they distributed agricultural incentives to the farmers on time. They supplied high quality seeds that produces high yield. They regularly provided agricultural training to the farmers. Moreover, the hard work of the farmers is also a reason behind the high yield. The production of paddy has increased due to the hybrid variety seeds. As a result, the yield has also increased on the whole. She also said the farmers will also get a high price for their paddy.
