Sylhet: The Department of Agricultural Extension has reported that 33 percent of paddy harvesting in the haor areas of Sylhet division has been completed. This marks significant progress in the region’s agricultural efforts for the current season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, till Sunday, farmers have harvested 95,751 hectares of paddy in the haors across four districts in Sylhet division. This is part of the 276,803 hectares cultivated in the haors this season, as stated by Sylhet region’s additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Bimal Chandra Shome. In contrast, 12,065 hectares of paddy have been harvested from 220,416 hectares in non-haor areas.
Bimal Chandra elaborated that Boro paddy has been cultivated over 497,219 hectares in the Sylhet region, surpassing the initial target. He expressed optimism that if the weather remains favorable until April 30, farmers could potentially complete 100 percent of the paddy harvest in the haor areas by that time.
Despite earlier predictions by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department of moderate to heavy rains in Sylhet starting April 15, the region has only experienced occasional rains up to April 20, allowing farmers to harvest paddy without major disruptions. Bimal highlighted that although Boro paddy production has met expectations, the forecast of heavy rains had initially concerned farmers, prompting a quicker pace in harvesting.
Water levels are currently 18 feet below the danger mark, but vigilance remains essential. Farmers are advised to harvest paddy that is 80 percent ripe to ensure production is not compromised. Notably, Sunamganj district has recorded the highest cultivation, surpassing its target with 223,502 hectares, followed by Habiganj, Sylhet, and Moulvibazar districts, all of which have met or exceeded their cultivation targets.
Farmers are hopeful for a bumper harvest, crediting the exceeded cultivation targets and favorable weather. In Sylhet district, 32 percent of the paddy has already been harvested in haor areas. In Sunamganj, 58,710 hectares have been harvested from 165,243 hectares. Similarly, in Habiganj, 16,903 hectares have been harvested, accounting for 36 percent of the cultivated area, while in Moulvibazar, 8,066 hectares have been harvested.
In non-haor regions, farmers have commenced harvesting ripe paddy. So far, 5.71 hectares have been harvested from a total of 220,416 hectares cultivated this season. Officials have noted that haor crops are particularly vulnerable to heavy rains and floods, hence the focus on completing haor harvesting first to safeguard Boro production.
Sunamganj District Training Officer Mustafa Kamal Azad emphasized the vulnerability of haor farmers to heavy rains, underlining the urgency to complete the paddy harvest swiftly. The district has mobilized around 700 machines to assist in the ongoing busy harvesting season, aided by favorable daytime weather.