Dhaka: Boro harvest has begun across the country with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) predicting a bumper production of the main staple crop this season. Around 20 percent of the cultivated land has already been harvested, yielding approximately 44.70 lakh metric tons of paddy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Boro is the most productive season for rice production, forming the foundation of the country’s food security as it accounts for about 58 percent of the total production. The DAE has expressed optimism about a very good Boro harvest this time, particularly noting that the haor areas, which are usually vulnerable to flash floods and rain, have experienced favorable weather conditions. As a result, paddy harvesting in these regions is nearing completion.
Dr. Shah Kamal Khan, Project Director of the Agro-Meteorological Information Systems Development Project, informed BSS that concerns about early floods and excessive rain during the Boro season have not materialized, with the current rainfall being beneficial for irrigation. He described the weather as generally favorable, emphasizing that the rain is a blessing for Boro paddy.
The DAE reported that Boro paddy production was 2.10 crore metric tons (MTs) in FY 2023-24, compared to 2.07 crore MTs in FY 2022-23, 2.01 crore MTs in FY 2021-22, and 1.98 crore MTs in FY 2020-21. Md. Obaidur Rahman Mondal, Director of the Field Services Wing, highlighted the high possibility of good yields this season, noting that the slight rain in different parts of the country will not negatively affect the crops.
Boro paddy has been cultivated on 50 lakh 46.5 thousand hectares across the country, with a production target set at 2.126 crore metric tons. The overall paddy production target for the three seasons (Aush, Aman, and Boro) across the country is set at 4.06 crore metric tons, with Boro contributing significantly to this target.
In the haor region, 454,000 hectares of land are used for paddy cultivation during the three seasons, with most cultivated land located in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Habiganj, Sunamganj, and Brahmanbaria. Eighty percent of the paddy has already been harvested using the combined harvest method, accounting for 360,000 hectares.
Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd) confirmed during an inspection at Arial Beel in Srinagar Upazila of Munshiganj that the Boro rice yield is satisfactory and harvesting is on track to be completed within the stipulated time.
A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations stated that Bangladesh produced 6.43 crore MTs of grain food in 2023, with paddy accounting for 5.86 crore MTs of this total.