Farmers in Moulvibazar are busy with Boro cultivation despite the biting cold. Huddled against the chill from morning to midday, they are transplanting Boro seedlings in the fields, and land is being prepared at the same time.

This was the scene in Boro fields in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar. Local farmers said the cost of growing Boro has risen sharply because of higher fuel prices, and a lack of adequate irrigation is delaying cultivation. According to the upazila office of the Department of Agricultural Extension, the Boro target in the upazila this year is 4,602 hectares. Farmers here have been turning to Boro for several years.

In various areas of Patanushar, Munshibazar, Shamshernagar, Alinagar and Rahimpur unions, farmers were seen planting different varieties of Boro seedlings in the winter morning fog. Many were preparing land for planting, and others tending seedlings. But many farmers are uneasy about the irrigation shortage and higher fertiliser and fuel prices.

Abdul Ahad, a farmer of Rahimpur union, told Jagonews he has grown Boro on 2 acres for two years. He has finished preparing the land and is now planting. With adequate irrigation he would grow Boro on another 2-3 acres, he said.

Majid Mia, a farmer of Shamshernagar union, told Jagonews he will grow Boro on three acres this year. Higher fuel prices have raised irrigation and ploughing costs a lot, he said. If paddy prices in the Boro season are like those of the Aman season, farmers will profit.

Kamalganj upazila agriculture extension officer Biswajit Roy said they are helping farmers grow Boro. Boro cultivation in the upazila has increased a great deal, and farmers are becoming interested in Boro alongside Aus and Aman. With good paddy prices, more will be grown this year than in other years, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.