Synchronised ("somoloy") Boro rice cultivation with the help of farm machinery has begun in Chuadanga, saving farmers time, labour and money. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) inaugurated the synchronised planting on the afternoon of Wednesday, 8 February, in the Jagannathpur field of Alamdanga upazila.

In Alamdanga, 103 farmers have been brought under synchronised Boro cultivation on 150 bighas.

The event was chaired by DAE deputy director Bibhas Chandra Saha, with Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Nazmul Hamid Reza as chief guest. Alamdanga upazila chairman Md. Ayub Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rony Alam Noor and vice-chairman Salmun Ahmed Don were also present.

Bibhas Chandra Saha said modern methods are constantly reaching agriculture and the department is encouraging farmers in the field to grow needed crops, with synchronised rice cultivation part of this. The additional deputy commissioner said the government is providing large subsidies and distributing machines to farmers at half price, and farmers are interested because the method lowers costs and time and reduces crop losses.

Farmer Rabiul Islam, who made a seedbed in the Jagannathpur Tepagyara field, said he had never before raised rice seedlings in trays with modern machines and did so for the first time with the agriculture office's support.

According to DAE, synchronised cultivation uses high-yielding varieties, sowing seed in trays, planting young seedlings, rice transplanters for planting, balanced fertiliser and combine harvesters for harvesting. It raises production, cuts costs and, through mechanisation, solves the shortage of farm labour at peak harvest time.

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