Photo : BSS

By Rostam Ali Mandal

DINAJPUR, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS) - Farmers across Dinajpur are passing busy days transplanting IRRI and Boro paddy seedlings with hopes of achieving higher yield in the current season, turning vast croplands into scenes of intense activity and quiet optimism. 

A target has been set to cultivate IRRI-Boro paddy on 172,650 hectares of land in all 13 upazilas of the district, while about 60 percent of the transplantation has already been completed.

Scientific Officer of Dinajpur Rice Research Institute Md Rafiqul Islam said farmers have engaged in IRRI-Boro cultivation from February 1, defying the cold weather, and the transplantation process will continue until March 15. 

He noted that farmers start work early in the morning, stepping into cold water to uproot seedlings and transplant them into prepared fields. Land preparation is also going on simultaneously, with power tillers ploughing fields from dawn till noon. 

After early potato harvest, farmers are quickly using those lands for IRRI and Boro cultivation, he said, adding that the rural landscape now reflects a festive mood as farmers remain fully occupied with the seasonal work.

Deputy Director (Training and Crops) of Dinajpur Department of Agricultural Extension Md Mostafizur Rahman said field-level agricultural officers are assisting farmers with proper guidance to ensure better production this season. 

High-yielding varieties developed by the agriculture department are being used across the district, he said. 

Farmers are cultivating hybrid and high-yielding varieties, including Hira-1, Hira-2, Sonar Bangla, BRRI-28, BRRI-29, BRRI-81, BRRI-74, BRRI-89, BRRI-90 and BRRI-102, alongside some local varieties, he mentioned. 

Necessary advice is being provided to ensure proper care of the crops, he said, adding that farmers who did not cultivate potato or mustard after Aman paddy are transplanting Boro seedlings early in those lands.

Deputy Director of Dinajpur Department of Agricultural Extension Md Afzal Hossain said favorable weather, availability of agricultural inputs and uninterrupted electricity for irrigation have enabled farmers to transplant seedlings on time in a smooth manner. 

He said that all cultivable Boro fields in the district have been brought under irrigation with full electricity support this season. 

He added that the agriculture department has made all necessary inputs, including fertilizers and pesticides, easily available to farmers to achieve a higher production target. 

Mentioning that adequate fertilizer stocks are available in buffer warehouses, while 126 BCIC fertilizer dealers are operating in the 13 upazilas, he said that to facilitate farmers, three sub-dealers have been assigned under each dealer, and monitoring is being carried out to ensure fair prices.

There is a strong possibility of exceeding the cultivation target this season, as farmers are hopeful of a bumper harvest. They envision their granaries filled with paddy when the seedlings mature. 

Farmers said early transplantation helps ensure better yield, while planting in rows makes crop management easier. They expect around 20 percent higher production compared to other crops due to lower pest infestation. 

However, they also pointed out that the prices of seeds, fertilizers and labours are high, which affects profitability. They said timely transplantation is crucial, especially amid dense fog and cold weather, to achieve expected yield.

Afzal Hossain further said seedbeds were not significantly affected by cold this season, providing relief to farmers. 

He confirmed that 60 percent of transplantation has already been completed and the remaining work will be finished within the stipulated time. If conditions remain favorable, the district is expecting a bumper production, surpassing the target due to increased cultivation of high-yielding varieties. 

He also expressed hope that production would exceed last year’s output.

Last year, IRRI and Boro paddy were cultivated on 174,275 hectares of land in the district, producing 835,000 metric tons of rice.