ZCZC
BSS-43
RAZZAK-PADDY-HARVESTING
44pc paddy harvested in haor areas: Razzak
DHAKA, April 25, 2020 (BSS)- Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzak today said the farmers of haor areas have harvested 44 percent paddy covering 1.98 lakh hectares of land.
“We have arranged transports to bring labours from different districts and they went there to do the job maintaining health code,” he told through a video conference from his residence in the city.
Razzak said combined harvesters and reapers are being used to harvest paddy. The farmers have almost harvested BRRI-28 type of paddy while the harvesting of BRRI-29 type of paddy will begin after seven to eight days.
The minister hoped that the farmers can harvest their paddy within 10 to 12 days.
He thanked local representatives, local administrations, district police, all concerned of health department and agriculture department at district, upazila and union levels.
The minister also thanked different socio-cultural organizations, political parties, including Krishak League and Chhatra League, students and teachers of schools and colleges, to help the farmers harvest their paddy.
As per the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the farmers cultivated Boro rice on 4,45,399 hectors of land this year in haor areas in seven districts- Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet and Brahmanbaria.
The minister said the farmers have harvested 53 percent paddy in Sylhet, 54 percent in Moulvibazar, 37 percent in Habiganj, 48 percent in Sunamganj, 56 percent in Netrakona and 56 percent in Brahmanbaria.
Razzak said the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has already warned about the disruption of food procurement and delivery system across the glove due to Coronavirus epidemic.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already called for increasing food production and stock to protect the economy from global recession. The premier has directed to produce crops in every inch of land, Razzak added.
For this, the agriculture minister said his ministry is working relentlessly.
BSS/pr/PSB/KU/2237hrs