Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - Farmers in Rajshahi district have begun transplanting Boro seedlings with a target of producing more than 329,000 tonnes of paddy during the current season.

Across the fields of the Barind region, farmers are busy planting seedlings, turning the countryside into a seasonal festival of cultivation.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers in the district's nine upazilas have set a target to cultivate Boro on about 68,300 hectares of land this season. From morning till evening, farmers are engaged in uprooting seedlings from seedbeds and transplanting them into the fields.

The nine upazilas include Tanore, Godagari, Mohanpur, Bagmara, Paba, Durgapur, Puthia, Bagha and Charghat.

Boro transplantation began in January and will continue until March 31. Despite the cold weather at the beginning of the season, farmers started preparing seedbeds and transplanting seedlings.

Officials said Boro cultivation activities are particularly vibrant in the fields of Godagari, Tanore, Paba and Mohanpur, where farmers are hopeful of achieving a good harvest.

Matiur Rahman, a farmer from Darusha in Paba upazila, said they faced difficulties preparing seedbeds due to unusually cold weather earlier in the season.

"We followed the advice of agricultural officials and covered the seedlings with polythene sheets to protect them from the cold. The seedlings are now strong and we are hopeful of a good yield," he said.

However, many farmers have expressed concern over rising production costs.

Shafiqul Islam, a farmer from Tanore upazila, said increasing prices of diesel and fertilizers are raising cultivation expenses. "For sharecroppers like us, it is becoming difficult to survive. If the government ensures a fair price for paddy, our efforts will be worthwhile," he said.

This season, farmers are also showing increasing interest in modern farming methods and high-yielding varieties.

Alongside popular varieties such as BRRI dhan-28 and BRRI dhan-29, farmers are cultivating newly developed high-yielding varieties including BRRI dhan-89, BRRI dhan-92 and zinc-enriched BRRI dhan-100.

Nurul Islam, a farmer from Godagari, said he cultivated new varieties this year following advice from agricultural officials. "The cost is almost the same, but the yield is expected to be higher than the older varieties. That gives us hope," he added.

Irrigation remains a major challenge in the Barind region, but the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority has assured uninterrupted irrigation facilities during the season. Farmers have also urged the authorities to ensure adequate supply of fertilizers in the market.

Mita Sarkar, additional deputy director of the Rajshahi District DAE, said nearly half of the targeted land has already been brought under Boro cultivation.

"We hope to complete transplantation according to the target. Our officials are providing field-level guidance to farmers. Seeds and fertilizers have also been distributed as incentives," she said.

She added that the goal is not only to increase production but also to reduce production costs and ensure profitability for farmers.

Meanwhile, officials said around 37.25 lakh tonnes of Irri-Boro rice are expected to be produced from about 8.19 lakh hectares of land in the eight districts of Rajshahi division this season.

The DAE has set a target of producing 17.23 lakh tonnes of rice from 3.66 lakh hectares of land in four districts under the Rajshahi Agricultural Zone, while 20.02 lakh tonnes are expected to be produced from 4.53 lakh hectares in four districts under the Bogura Agricultural Zone.

This year, the DAE has also set a target of developing seedbeds on around 40,209 hectares of land across the division, including high-yielding varieties.

Dr Azizur Rahman, additional director of the DAE, said district, upazila and field-level officials are advising farmers to protect seedbeds from cold weather by covering them with polythene sheets at night.

He said all possible measures are being taken to achieve the production target and strengthen food security in the region, including the vast Barind tract.

The regional office of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has also taken various initiatives, including farmers' training, demonstration plots and supply of newly developed high-yielding varieties to growers to make the Boro cultivation successful.

Dr Muhammad Hossain, chief scientific officer of BRRI, said the institute has developed 14 Boro varieties suitable for the Rajshahi region, including its Barind tract.