Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target of cultivating Boro rice on 81,613 hectares of land across Nilphamari district in the current season.
Md Arif Rabbani, deputy agriculture officer in the district, confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune.
Meanwhile, farmers are busy preparing their fields, applying fertilizers and such, optimistic about harvesting the crop early.
Of the targeted area to be brought under Boro cultivation, 22,455 hectares are in Sadar upazila, 6,445 hectares in Saidpur, 13,015 hectares in Domar, 13,080 hectares in Dimla, 14,791 hectares in Jaldhaka, and 11,727 hectares in Kishoreganj upazila.
Some farmers in the region have already started to plant seedlings ahead of the peak season, while most will commence cultivation soon.
Obaidur Rahman, a farmer from Bahali Para village of Sadar upazila, said that seedlings of BRRI 28 and BRRI 29 are being used by most farmers in the region, as those rice varieties require minimal water and fertilizers.
The availability of cheap labour is also getting their hopes up for a good harvest, along with favourable weather conditions.
Nazrul Islam, of the same village, said the weather conditions, so far, are favouring the seedbeds. He added that it will take less time than usual to extract the seedlings, if the weather remains consistent.
There will also be no need to transfer the seedlings to cold storages, thus, reducing expenses to a great deal.
Sources at DAE said the targeted land for Boro cultivation had exceeded last year’s target by 5,040 hectares, while there is surplus stock of seedlings on 959 hectares in the district.
The stock of fertilizers in the district for July 2018 to June 2019 fiscal year is 83,463 tons.
Out of that stock, there are 45,577 tons of urea, 10,827 tons of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), 14,324 tons of DFE (di-ammonium phosphate), and 12,735 tons of MOP (muriate of potash) fertilizers.
Md Keramat Ali, additional deputy director at DAE, told the Dhaka Tribune that favourable weather conditions will be advantageous to the farmers who cultivate Boro this season.
He added that the DAE will help them with logistics, expert advice and other support.
