News Flash
By Md Aynal Haque
RAJSHAHI, May 10, 2025 (BSS) - Boro paddy farmers across Rajshahi, including the vast Barind region, are delighted with the yield and price at the beginning of the current harvesting season.
According to sources concerned, farmers are, on average, getting 24 to 25 maunds of paddy per bigha of land. They are selling paddy at Taka 1,400 to 1,500 per maund, which is comparatively higher than in previous seasons.
At this initial stage, farmers are harvesting some high-yielding and short-duration varieties like BR-28 and the local Jira variety. Other varieties will be harvested within the next two to three weeks.
This year, boro paddy was cultivated on 68,295 hectares of land in the district. Due to favourable weather, farmers are getting good yields.
Sub-assistant Agriculture Officer Atanu Sarker told BSS that farmers are happy with the achieved yield, adding that "Favorable weather and government support are being considered the main reasons behind the good yield."
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Umme Salma told BSS on Friday that, till May 8, farmers had harvested 25 percent of the total cultivated land.
Afsa Ali, 48, a farmer from Dhantoir village under Tanore Upazila, harvested 40 maunds of paddy from his two bighas of land.
Speaking to BSS, he said those cultivating on their own land spent around Taka 20,000 per bigha, while those on leased land spent about Taka 25,000. He noted that the cost is higher for farmers without proper irrigation facilities.
Abdus Salam, another farmer, got 25 maunds of paddy from one bigha - his highest yield so far. He expects to complete harvesting seven more bighas of land within the next three days. He said paddy is currently being sold in wholesale markets for Taka 1,200 to 1,500 per maund.
Samadul Islam, 54, a farmer of Ishwaripur village under Godagari upazila, said he harvested 8.8 tons (dry) per hectare after cultivating the BRRI dhan 92 variety - significantly higher than local varieties.
Jakir Hossain, 54, of Hatibandha village under Godagari upazila, said prices of both paddy and rice increased during the previous Boro, Aush and Aman seasons due to government-level procurement drives, which inspired many to expand Boro cultivation.
"I got a better price for the last Aman paddy. So I cultivated Boro paddy on 10 bighas of land," said Abu Rahman of Gubirpara village under Tanore upazila, adding that farmers are satisfied with paddy cultivation this season.
Besides the mainland, Boro paddy has also been cultivated on 1,762 hectares of char (shoal) land in Godagari, Paba, and Bagha upazilas this year, with promising yields.
Mirshad Ali of Char Khidirpur village under Paba upazila said there was no need for extra fertilizer use as char lands are naturally fertile.
"Many farmers who cultivated Boro on char lands have achieved higher yields," said Isman Gani of Char Asariadaha village under Godagari upazila.
Dr Harun-Or-Rashid, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), said BRRI has released 14 Boro varieties suitable for the Rajshahi region, including Barind areas.
Among them, BRRI dhan 50 is export-oriented premium quality rice, BRRI dhan 58 is high-yielding, and BRRI dhan 84 is enriched with iron and zinc.
He said the replacement of traditional varieties with modern ones is a good sign for the region in terms of increasing yield.
Yield, price make Rajshahi boro farmers delighted
By Md Aynal Haque
RAJSHAHI, May 10, 2025 (BSS) - Boro paddy farmers across Rajshahi, including the vast Barind region, are delighted with the yield and price at the beginning of the current harvesting season.
According to sources concerned, farmers are, on average, getting 24 to 25 maunds of paddy per bigha of land. At the same time, they are selling paddy at Taka 1,400 to 1,500 per maund, which is comparatively higher than in previous seasons.
At this initial stage, farmers are harvesting some high-yielding and short-duration varieties like BR-28 and the local Jira variety. Other varieties will be harvested within the next two to three weeks.
This year, boro paddy was cultivated on 68,295 hectares of land in the district. Thanks to favourable weather, farmers are enjoying good yields.
Sub-assistant Agriculture Officer Atanu Sarker told BSS that farmers are happy with the achieved yield, adding: "Favourable weather and government support are being considered the main reasons behind the good yield."
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Umme Salma told BSS on Friday that, till May 8, farmers had harvested 25 percent of the total cultivated land.
Afsa Ali, 48, a farmer from Dhantoir village under Tanore Upazila, harvested 40 maunds of paddy from his two bighas of land.
Speaking to BSS, he said those cultivating on their own land spent around Taka 20,000 per bigha, while those on leased land spent about Taka 25,000. He noted that the cost is higher for farmers without proper irrigation facilities.
Abdus Salam, another farmer, got 25 maunds of paddy from one bigha - his highest yield so far. He expects to complete harvesting seven more bighas of land within the next three days. He said paddy is currently being sold in wholesale markets for Taka 1,200 to 1,500 per maund.
Samadul Islam, 54, a farmer of Ishwaripur village under Godagari upazila, said he harvested 8.8 tonnes (dry) per hectare after cultivating the BRRI dhan 92 variety - significantly higher than local varieties.
Jakir Hossain, 54, of Hatibandha village under Godagari upazila, said prices of both paddy and rice increased during the previous Boro, Aush and Aman seasons due to government-level procurement drives, which inspired many to expand Boro cultivation.
"I got a better price for the last Aman paddy. So I cultivated Boro paddy on 10 bighas of land," said Abu Rahman of Gubirpara village under Tanore upazila, adding that farmers are satisfied with paddy cultivation this season.
Besides the mainland, Boro paddy has also been cultivated on 1,762 hectares of char (shoal) land in Godagari, Paba, and Bagha upazilas this year, with promising yields.
Mirshad Ali of Char Khidirpur village under Paba upazila said there was no need for extra fertilizer use as char lands are naturally fertile.
"Many farmers who cultivated Boro on char lands have achieved higher yields," said Isman Gani of Char Asariadaha village under Godagari upazila.
Dr Harun-Or-Rashid, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), said BRRI has released 14 Boro varieties suitable for the Rajshahi region, including Barind areas.
Among them, BRRI dhan 50 is an export-oriented premium quality rice, BRRI dhan 58 is high-yielding, and BRRI dhan 84 is enriched with iron and zinc.
He said the replacement of traditional varieties with modern ones is a good sign for the region in terms of increasing yield.
