Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said Haor farmers must cultivate rapidly-ripening variety of paddy to avert any sort of risk like flash floods.
“Haor produces 12 lakh to 14 lakh tonnes of paddy, which is very helpful for food security in the country. Due to early floods several times it faces risky situation. In order to reduce this risk, importance is being given to cultivate paddy which can ripen 15-20 days earlier. Scientists have already invented many varieties. Farmers have to come forward to farm these varieties,” said the agriculture minister.
Besides, the construction of sustainable dams, timely inter-ministerial coordination and supply of adequate combine harvester and reaper on priority basis in Haor are indispensable to overcome any unexpected calamities.
The minister said this while inspecting crop protection dam and boro paddy field at Chapati Haor in Dirai upazila of Sunamganj district on Saturday.
The Minister also urged the farmers not to cultivate BRRI 29 paddy as it takes time to ripe and BRRI 28 as it is susceptible to blast disease in Haor areas. He said, “Only one crop that is boro paddy is grown annually in the vast areas of haorland. To increase the productivity of this crop, it is necessary to cultivate high yielding varieties of paddy such as BRRI 89, BRRI 92 and BINA 17. We will give our farmers improved varieties of seeds. They must have to come forward to cultivate these.”
Read More: Boro paddy cultivation cost increases in Jamalpur
The minister said, “Various incentives and food aid would be given to the farmers affected by the breach of the dam. Free seeds and fertilizers would be provided to the affected farmers in the next boro season. In addition, various food aid including VGF will be provided throughout the year so that no one bothers for food. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is by the side of the affected farmers.”
The Minister said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Local Government, Water Development Board and all will take concerted initiative for the construction and sustainable repair of sustainable dams to protect crops. In many cases the dams are not repaired in time. In this case, the existing policy on dam repair and maintenance will be re-evaluated. In addition, river dredging will be undertaken to increase water holding capacity.
Combine harvesters and reapers are being provided in Haor on priority basis for quick harvesting of paddy considering the labor crisis. Razzak said the present farmer-friendly government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is providing 70 percent subsidy to the farmers for harvesting.
Expressing concern over paddy harvesting, the minister further said, “As the Minister of Agriculture, I am in panic every year about harvesting Boro paddy in Haor due to early floods or flash floods. If it does not rain, we are hopeful that the remaining paddy of this year will be taken to the farmer’s house. Adequate paddy harvesting machines have been allotted in Haor and machinery is being brought from other parts of the country. The local administration, agriculture department and politicians are keen to help farmers protect the dam.”
