Osmaninagar (Sylhet) Correspondent:
The Boro rice season has begun in Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet. Farmers have already become busy preparing Boro rice seedbeds in the haor areas of various unions of the upazila. Especially, farmers in Banaiya, Moktarpur, Kalasara, Lengra, Jugnigarh, Haonia, Runia and Charisabpur areas are in a frenzy of work.
Farmers in the haor area said that they are having a good time preparing seedbeds at the beginning of the Boro season as the weather is favorable. They are now working in the morning and evening to increase rice production through advance preparation.
Abdul Haque, a farmer from Prothomapasha village, said, “We don’t want to waste time. We are working in the field even though it is a little difficult as the water is still stagnant. I hope that the yield will be good if the weather is favorable.”
Another farmer from the same area, Firuz Mia, said, “Rice is the main source of income for our family in our area. So, we don’t want to make any negligence in preparing the seedbed. This time, we have been able to start earlier than last year.”
Upazila Agriculture Officer Umme Tamima said that this year’s Boro season has been planned as per the target. For this, farmers are being given adequate amount of seeds, fertilizers and advice.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer (Crops Division) responded, “We are in constant contact at the field level. Haor farmers are being given guidelines to plant rice on time.”
Haor farmers said that the only crop of the year, Boro rice, is their lifeline. If natural disasters can be avoided, they are hoping for good profits in farming this year.
It is worth noting that Boro rice is cultivated on thousands of hectares of land across the vast haors of Osmaninagar Upazila every year. This rice plays a direct role in the country’s food security.