Manikganj: The harvesting of Boro paddy has commenced across all seven upazilas in the district, facilitated by the use of combined harvester machines during the current season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government, aiming to modernize and mechanize the agriculture sector, has distributed 126 combined harvesters through the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) to farmers in the district. This move is intended to ease and expedite the harvesting of Boro paddy, the region’s primary crop. The number of combined harvesters available in the district has increased from 76 in 2021 due to a growing interest among farmers, spurred by a shortage of laborers.
Dr. Robiah Noor Ahmed, Deputy Director of DAE, stated that the government has been providing these machines at subsidized rates. Farmers, farmer groups, or local service providers can acquire the machines at a 50 percent subsidy, enabling them to harvest their paddy and offer cost-effective services to other farmers.
DAE office sources highlighted the efficiency of these machines, noting that a farmer can harvest and clean Boro paddy from one acre in just an hour at a cost of Taka 3,000 using a combined harvester. In contrast, employing laborers for the same task would cost Taka 6,000 per acre.
The distribution of these machines has been both formal and informal, and while 126 harvesters have been distributed, 17 of them are currently not operational. The remaining 109 machines are functioning properly, indicating a positive shift towards mechanized farming in Manikganj.