Shariatpur: Vast stretches of golden paddy fields across the district signal a promising Boro season, with production expected to surpass official targets. Despite the impressive yield, farmers are increasingly anxious about safely harvesting their crops due to erratic weather conditions.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) reports that Boro cultivation in the district has exceeded its target this year. While the initial cultivation goal was set on 25,565 hectares of land, farmers cultivated 25,570 hectares, slightly surpassing expectations. The production target has been fixed at 119,550 metric tons, and officials remain optimistic about exceeding it.
So far, paddy has been harvested from 4,247 hectares, accounting for about 18 percent of the total cultivated land. Farmers across the district planted a variety of high-yielding hybrid and inbred Boro strains, including Hira-2, ACI-1, Moyna, Gold, Tia, Chhakka, Win-305, BRRI Hybrid-8, Ispahani-1, Babylon-3, as well as BRRI and BINA varieties. Local varieties such as Kali Boro, Khaiyaboro, and Chaitali Boro were also cultivated.
Shariatpur’s fertile silty loam soil, enriched by its proximity to the Padma and Meghna rivers, combined with efficient irrigation and support from agricultural authorities, has contributed to this year’s bumper production. However, farmers’ optimism is being overshadowed by growing concerns over unpredictable weather. Recent storms and rainfall have begun to damage crops in several areas. In some fields, paddy plants have been flattened by strong winds, while others have been submerged due to waterlogging. Continuous rain has also made harvesting and threshing difficult.
Md. Mustafa Kamal, Deputy Director of the DAE in Shariatpur, stated that if weather conditions remain favorable until May 30, most of the crops can still be harvested. The department is currently advising and assisting farmers to minimize losses. Local farmer Md. Delwar Hossain from the Bilashkhan area of Shariatpur Sadar upazila noted that yields are higher than last year, but storms have already caused damage. He mentioned that they are harvesting early to save what they can, but this is reducing overall production.