By Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Mar 16, 2022 (BSS) - Farmers have already exceeded the fixed farming
target of Boro rice and they are busy in taking care of the excellently
growing tender rice plants in Rangpur agriculture region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers are
still continuing transplantation of Boro rice seedlings after harvesting
potatoes on the same land in all five districts of the region.

"We are expecting a bumper production of Boro rice as tender rice plants are
growing fabulously amid favorable climatic conditions," Additional Director
of the DAE's Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Tauhidul Ikbal told BSS today.

The government has fixed a target of producing 22,07,132 tonnes of clean Boro
rice (33,10,698 tonnes in terms of paddy) from 5,03,550 hectares of land for
all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region during the current Rabi
season.

"Farmers have so far cultivated Boro rice on 503,850 hectares of land, 300
heatares of 0.06 percent higher against the fixed farming target for the
region," Ikbal said.

The DAE and other agriculture-related organisations are working sincerely to
ensure smooth irrigation, supply of fuels, fertilizers and electricity and
other facilities to farmers to make the intensive Boro rice farming programme
a success.

"Tender rice plants are growing well giving an eye-catching greenish look to
the vast tracts of crop fields," Ikbal said, adding that a bumper Boro rice
output is likely if the climatic conditions remain favourable onwards.

Meanwhile, farmers have put 2,08,741 irrigation pumps including electricity,
diesel and solar power run 2,828 deep tube wells, 2,04,329 shallow tube
wells, 1,070 low lift pumps and 514 other pumps into operation to irrigate
their Boro rice fields.

The DAE has fixed a target of bringing 1,00,770 hectares of Boro rice
croplands under the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method of irrigation
technology to enhance Boro rice yield at lower costs reducing lifting of
underground water.

 
Besides, targets have been fixed to bring 50,385 hectares of land under use
of compost fertilisers, 3,02,310 hectares under use of balanced fertilisers,
3,91,205 hectares under the perching and 10,240 hectares under the light trap
methods of pests management.

In the eco-friendly perching method, farmers set up bamboo poles or branches
of trees at regular intervals in Boro rice fields so that birds can alight or
roost on those and eat harmful insects on rice plants helping farmers
combating pests' attacks naturally.

"In light trap method, farmers put pots filled with a mixture of water and
detergent under a source of light on Boro rice fields. Being attracted by the
reflection of light at night, harmful insects fall into the pots and
consequently die," Ikbal added.

Talking to BSS, farmer Ariful Haque of village Najirdigar in Rangpur Sadar
said tender plants of Boro rice on his seven acres of land are growing
excellently predicting a bumper Boro rice output.

Similarly, farmers Mofazzal Hossain Nazmul Alam and Auyub Ali of different
villages here said tender plants of Boro rice on their croplands are growing
superbly this season.