After Aman paddy harvesting in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna, farmers are busy planting Boro paddy. Many are busy planting paddy seedlings. After the Aman paddy season, farmers have started preparing Boro paddy. Boro paddy will be better if good seeds, fertilizers and irrigation can be given properly, said the farmers.
Agriculture officials in the upazila say that the farmers of this upazila are experienced in producing Aman and Boro paddy. For this reason, they cultivate paddy in the same land two to three times a year. Besides, winter crops are also been cultivated already. The fertile power of cultivable land of this upazila is high.
Hasan Chowdhury, a farmer from village Gopalpur Paschimpara of Ishwardi upazila said that he has planted Boro paddy in 4 bighas of land this season. The land was prepared in advance as the weather was favorable. Due to the rains a few days ago, planting Boro paddy has become more convenient. He said it cost him Tk 6,000 to Tk 7,000 to plant Boro paddy per bigha of land. His total expenditure on four bighas of land is 26 to 32 thousand Tk. Hasan Chowdhury said, if the weather is favorable, the yield will be good. He expects to get 80 mounds of paddy in 4 bighas as 20 mounds in return. At the current market price of Boro paddy is 900 Tk, the price of 60 mounds of paddy is 72 thousand Tk. Apart from the cost of 4 bighas, his profit will be a total of 40 thousand Tk.
The same was said by Anisur Rahman, a farmer of Ista village in the municipal area. This time he has planted Boro paddy in 16 bighas of land. If the weather is good and fertilizers and seeds can be given on time, he said, he will get 20 to 25 mounds in return.
Boro paddy planting time is from January to February immediately after the mustard leaves the field. Earlier, the Upazila Agriculture Department assisted the farmers in making Boro paddy seedbeds. Besides, the agriculture officials of the department also give advice to prepare the land for paddy cultivation.
According to the Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Officer's Office, a total of 2,526 hectares of land has been targeted for Boro paddy cultivation in seven unions and municipal areas of the upazila during the current Boro season. So far planting of saplings has been completed in 600 hectares of land. Until this month, farmers will plant Boro paddy seedlings in the prepared land.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said the farmers of Ishwardi are very experienced in paddy production. They have started planting Boro paddy seedlings in the land prepared in time. Out of 2,527 hectares of cultivable land, saplings have been planted in 600 hectares of land so far. By the end of this month, planting of rice seedlings in the remaining land will be completed. He said the fertile power of the land of Ishwardi upazila is high.
The farmers here are more interested in Boro paddy cultivation. This time, the average production target of Boro paddy in Ishwardi has been set higher than the previous year.
The Department of Agriculture provides overall assistance to the farmers in Boro cultivation.
