Khulna: Farmers in the Khulna agricultural region have completed transplantation of Boro rice seedlings on 96 percent of the targeted land area for the current Rabi season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials stated that tender Boro plants are growing well across the region, with farmers now focusing on the final phase of transplantation.
The DAE, alongside other agriculture-related organisations, is actively providing modern technologies and necessary support to enhance rice production and strengthen the country’s food security. Additional Director of the DAE for the Khulna region, Md Rafiqul Islam, mentioned that farmers in the region-covering Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail districts-are making significant efforts to ensure the success of the intensive Boro cultivation programme with government assistance.
The DAE has set a production target of 12,10,283 tonnes of clean Boro rice from 2,64,719 hectares of land in the Khulna agricultural region this season. Of this total, 8,01,696 tonnes of hybrid Boro rice will be cultivated on 1,62,970 hectares, 4,08,299 tonnes of high-yielding variety (HYV) rice on 1,01,607 hectares, and 288 tonnes of local variety Boro rice on 142 hectares of land.
According to DAE sources, farmers have already transplanted Boro seedlings on 2,53,252 hectares of land, approximately 96 percent of the fixed target, until February 15. The DAE, in coordination with other related organisations, including West Zone Power Company Limited (OZOPADICO) and the Rural Electrification Board, is ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilisers and electricity to facilitate smooth Boro cultivation.
Rafiqul Islam expressed optimism that enthusiastic farmers will exceed the fixed Boro cultivation target in the region this season. Inspired by the DAE’s initiatives, farmers are adopting conservation agriculture (CA)-based technologies, including the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method, to conserve irrigation water and boost rice production at reduced costs.
Farmers have already applied organic and balanced fertilisers on the targeted 2,64,719 hectares of land, with the process nearing completion. Transplantation has already been completed in coastal areas, and farmers have also brought more low-lying lands, beels, and riverine areas under Boro cultivation. They are nurturing the growing plants to ensure harvest before the onset of the rainy season.
Rafiqul Islam urged farmers to adopt CA-based technologies such as AWD irrigation and to use balanced and organic fertilisers to achieve maximum yield while reducing costs and conserving groundwater. Farmers from different villages in Khulna and Bagerhat districts reported that they have already completed transplantation of Boro seedlings on their croplands.