Dr Shafiqul Islam has drawn attention by growing Boro paddy in the Aus season, and has had a bumper yield. He lives in the Kuribari area of Madhupur upazila in Tangail and works as a medical officer at Bhola Sadar Hospital.

Growing Boro paddy in the Aus season allows the same land to be farmed three times a year, according to the report. There is also no chance of the crop being lost to natural disasters in this season, and because less irrigation and fertiliser are used, costs can be cut by half. That is why Dr Shafiqul Islam has made more profit, and seeing his success, many in the area have now started growing Boro paddy in the Aus season.

Dr Shafiqul Islam believes the method could be spread across the country with support from the agriculture department. "Four years ago, in the Aus season, I started growing the Boro varieties China Golden-1 and the local 28 and 29 on an experimental basis on two bighas of my own land. I had great success in the very first year. Since then I have grown Boro paddy in the Aus season every year," he said.

"This year I have grown the local hybrid Golden-1 on six bighas (198 decimals). Because there are no natural disasters in the Aus season and there is plenty of rain, Boro yields are much higher than at other times. And because less irrigation water and fertiliser are used, the cost of growing paddy comes down to about half. With this method I have grown paddy three times a year on the same land and profited more. If this method can be spread across the country, farmers will gain more and the country will become self-sufficient in food grains," he said.

Local farmers said: "Dr Shafiqul Islam has made a stir by growing Boro paddy in the Aus season. He has had three harvests a year from one plot. Following him, we are now also growing local hybrid Golden-1, and the yields are very good."

Local farmer Abu Bakar Siddiqui said: "On Dr Shafiqul's advice, last Aus season I grew local hybrid Golden-1 on four pakhi (120 decimals). I got 30 maunds of paddy per pakhi, and I was able to grow paddy three times a year on the same land. I have planted it again this season and hope for a good yield like last year."

Anisur Rahman, sub-assistant agriculture officer in Madhupur upazila, said: "Dr Shafiqul Islam has had a good yield growing Boro paddy in the Aus season. Following him, several farmers have also grown this paddy and had good yields. This variety yields more than other varieties."

Upazila agriculture officer Al Mamun Rasel said: "A sub-assistant agriculture officer has been assigned to find out which variety Dr Shafiqul Islam planted in the Aus season to make such a stir."

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