Cyclone Mocha: DAE harvests rice for Gopalganj farmers

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of Gopalganj Sadar upazila has begun cutting paddy with harvester ahead of Cyclone Mocha to save the crops from being damaged by the upcoming adverse weather.

Gopalganj Sadar upazila Agricultural Extension Officer Md Hamidul Islam said that 20,928 hectares of land have been planted in Gopalganj Sadar upazila during the current Boro season.

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Harvesting of ripe paddy in the upazila starts 15-20 days early. So far, 95% (19,882 hectares) of land has been harvested. In the meantime, the forecast of cyclone Mocha has been issued, he said.

The official added: “Before the storm hits, we are cutting the remaining 5% (1,44 hectares of rice) of the farmer's field with five combined harvesters.”

The official also said that amid the cyclone forecast and labour shortage, rice is being cut, threshed by machines and delivered to the farmers.

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Nasir Uddin and Monir Gazi, farmers of Haridaspur village of Gopalganj Sadar upazila, said that during the paddy harvesting season, they usually have all the paddy in the land. Along with that, there is a possibility of rain and storm. In this situation, sadar upazila agriculture office is cutting their paddy with machines and delivering it home saving them cost and labour. 

Before the storm, our rice is going up in the house. If the agriculture office did not take this initiative, there was a fear that our rice would be lost in the field, they added.

Gopalganj Sadar upazila Agriculture Officer Mafroza Akhter said that this initiative has been taken to popularize the mechanization method of agriculture and to deliver rice to the farmers in the midst of adversity.

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“Under the agricultural mechanization scheme, we are distributing agricultural machinery at 50% subsidized price. If agricultural mechanization is done, the farmer will be able to harvest the crops safely. This will reduce labour dependency. Farmers will benefit by bringing home more crops at low cost,” she added.

The official further said: “Before the storm, with the help of the combined harvester, we will be able to deliver 100% of the rice to the farmers. And farmers have expressed their interest in mechanizing agriculture by being able to harvest paddy with machines. This program gave rise to the hope of mechanization of agriculture.”