Gopalganj: A free distribution programme of seeds and chemical fertilizers has begun in the district to boost crop cultivation and production during the Rabi and Boro seasons. Under the government's agricultural incentive programme, seeds and chemical fertilizers have been distributed among 6,750 small and marginal farmers in Kotalipara upazila of the district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the distributed seeds include wheat, mustard, sunflower, onion, lentils, khesari, moong, peanuts, Ufshi Boro rice, and hybrid Boro rice. The chemical fertilizers provided under the programme include DAP and MOP. Kotalipara Upazila Agriculture Officer Dolan Chandra Roy from the Department of Agricultural Extension noted that each wheat farmer received 20 kg of wheat seeds along with 10 kg each of DAP and MOP fertilizers, benefiting a total of 500 farmers under the wheat incentive programme.
Additionally, 600 farmers were given 1 kg of mustard seeds along with 10 kg each of DAP and MOP fertilizers. For sunflower cultivation, 45 farmers received 1 kg of sunflower seeds and the same quantity of fertilizers. Moreover, incentives for Chinese almond cultivation were provided to 30 farmers, each receiving 10 kg of seeds, 10 kg of DAP, and 5 kg of MOP fertilizer. Fifty-five farmers received onion seeds, while 60 farmers were given moong dal seeds. Lentil cultivation incentives were provided to 130 farmers, and 210 farmers received support for khesari cultivation.
Under the Boro cultivation programme, 5,000 farmers were distributed 2 kg each of hybrid Boro rice seeds. An additional 130 farmers received incentives for Ufshi Boro rice cultivation, each obtaining 5 kg of paddy seeds along with 10 kg each of DAP and MOP fertilizers.
Agriculture Officer Dolan Chandra Roy mentioned that the incentive programme would lead to increased cultivation of wheat on 500 bighas, mustard on 600 bighas, sunflower on 45 bighas, Chinese almond on 30 bighas, onion on 55 bighas, moong dal on 60 bighas, lentils on 130 bighas, and khesari on 210 bighas of land during the Rabi season. He further added that hybrid Boro paddy would be cultivated on 5,000 bighas and Ufshi Boro paddy on 130 bighas, bringing a total of 6,750 bighas of land under Rabi crops and Boro paddy cultivation in Kotalipara upazila.
"The incentive support will significantly increase crop production in the Rabi season and enhance overall agricultural output in the upazila," the official stated.