CHAPAINAWABGANJ: A total of 48,520 hectares of land will be brought under Boro cultivation in the district this season.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials here said Boro paddy would be cultivated on 12,100 hectares of land in sadar upazila, 6,650 hectares in Shibganj, 15,720 hectares in Gomostapur, 8,200 hectares in Nachole and 5,850 hectares in Bholahat upazila.
Rice cultivation has increased during the current Boro season as farmers have been encouraged by higher prices for the kitchen staple.
“Because of the increased price of rice, farmers have allocated a larger portion of land, where they grew maize and wheat earlier, for Boro rice cultivation,” said Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension Office in Chapainawaqbganj Md Nazrul Islam.
The chief of the department said the latest estimate of acreage is final.
“Crop conditions look excellent. We expect a good crop unless there is no natural calamity before harvesting,” he added.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) last month said output from two rice crops—Boro and Aus—had been good because of generally favourable weather conditions in 2021.
“Farmers respond positively and increase cultivation when prices remain high as they expect profitable prices,” said DAE official.
“There may be a dispute about the actual acreage but it is true that farmers have cultivated the grains on a higher area of land after Aman rice production dropped for floods,” he added.
Prices saw a continuous increase in the previous 6 months, reflecting tight market supply following stagnant production for three consecutive years, limited imports and strong demand amid the corona pandemic.
