Aush farming promoted over Boro for lower water needs

Govt sets target of Boro cultivation on 48.66 lakh hectares of land, reducing the target by 0.44 lakh hectares from last year

The total Boro cultivation area has dropped this year compared to last year, as farmers seem to have lost interest in growing Boro due low paddy prices. The government has set a target of cultivating Boro on 48.66 lakh hectares this year compared to 49.10 lakh hectares last year, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Sources say the government is encouraging farmers to produce Aush instead of Boro, as 3,500 litres of water is needed to produce one kg of Boro paddy, which seriously undermines groundwater reserves.

DAE sources said they were considering the use of surface water instead of groundwater in Boro production. Electricity-operated 35,334 deep tubewells, 289,434 shallow machines, and 13,983 low-lift pumps are used during the Boro season to irrigate fields.

Besides, diesel-driven 2,204 deep tubewells, 106,898 shallow machines, and 173,205 LLP were also used for irrigation across the country during the Boro season, DAE deputy director (Seed) Dr Radheyshyam Sarker told The Independent yesterday.

According to sources, farmers are not getting a fair price for paddy in recent years vis-a-vis the cost of production. So, they are shifting to other crops instead of paddy, the sources added.

Besides, farmers are unable to harvest paddy from fields due to a shortage of agricultural labourers and their high wages.

About 2.30 lakh hectares of seed beds would be needed to produce 2.05 crore tonnes of Boro paddy on 48.66 lakh hectares this year, the sources said.

“We are encouraging farmers to increase Aus cultivation instead of Boro. Huge quantities of water are needed to produce Boro. So, we have suggested farmers to sow high-yielding Boro seeds,” Chandi Das Kunda, director of DAE (field wing), told this correspondent.

When asked about the decrease in the Boro area this year, Kunda said they were thinking of reducing the areas of Boro cultivation, as it needs huge quantities of groundwater. As much as 3,500 litres of water is needed to produce one kg of Boro paddy.

“Considering the environmental impact, we will suggest the farmers go for surface-water crops like Aus and Aman paddy. Besides, field-level DAE officials are working in this regard. Farmers are also being advised to use disease-free high-yielding seeds and plants in Boro cultivation,” Kunda said.

A total of 26.50 lakh tonnes of urea fertilisers, nine lakh tonnes of DAP, 7.50 lakh tonnes of TSP, and 8.50 lakh tonnes of MOP are needed annually in the country to produce crops, Rafiqul Amin, deputy director (fertiliser management) of the DAE, told this correspondent.

Bangladesh’s fertiliser factories produce only 10 lakh tonnes of urea. The rest  is  imported, he added. He said around 16.71 lakh tonnes of urea, 4.77 lakh tonnes of TSP, 5.63 lakh tonnes of DAP, and 5.08 lakh tonnes of MOP were needed only to produce Boro between November and March every year.

Aush farming promoted over Boro for lower water needs

Govt sets target of Boro cultivation on 48.66 lakh hectares of land, reducing the target by 0.44 lakh hectares from last year

The total Boro cultivation area has dropped this year compared to last year, as farmers seem to have lost interest in growing Boro due low paddy prices. The government has set a target of cultivating Boro on 48.66 lakh hectares this year compared to 49.10 lakh hectares last year, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Sources say the government is encouraging farmers to produce Aush instead of Boro, as 3,500 litres of water is needed to produce one kg of Boro paddy, which seriously undermines groundwater reserves. DAE sources said they were considering the use of surface water instead of groundwater in Boro production. Electricity-operated 35,334 deep tubewells, 289,434 shallow machines, and 13,983 low-lift pumps are used during the Boro season to irrigate fields. Besides, diesel-driven 2,204 deep tubewells, 106,898 shallow machines, and 173,205 LLP were also used for irrigation across the country during the Boro season, DAE deputy director (Seed) Dr Radheyshyam Sarker told The Independent yesterday. According to sources, farmers are not getting a fair price for paddy in recent years vis-a-vis the cost of production. So, they are shifting to other crops instead of paddy, the sources added. Besides, farmers are unable to harvest paddy from fields due to a shortage of agricultural labourers and their high wages. About 2.30 lakh hectares of seed beds would be needed to produce 2.05 crore tonnes of Boro paddy on 48.66 lakh hectares this year, the sources said. We are encouraging farmers to increase Aus cultivation instead of Boro. Huge quantities of water are needed to produce Boro. So, we have suggested farmers to sow high-yielding Boro seeds, Chandi Das Kunda, director of DAE (field wing), told this correspondent. When asked about the decrease in the Boro area this year, Kunda said they were thinking of reducing the areas of Boro cultivation, as it needs huge quantities of groundwater. As much as 3,500 litres of water is needed to produce one kg of Boro paddy. Considering the environmental impact, we will suggest the farmers go for surface-water crops like Aus and Aman paddy. Besides, field-level DAE officials are working in this regard. Farmers are also being advised to use disease-free high-yielding seeds and plants in Boro cultivation, Kunda said. A total of 26.50 lakh tonnes of urea fertilisers, nine lakh tonnes of DAP, 7.50 lakh tonnes of TSP, and 8.50 lakh tonnes of MOP are needed annually in the country to produce crops, Rafiqul Amin, deputy director (fertiliser management) of the DAE, told this correspondent. Bangladeshs fertiliser factories produce only 10 lakh tonnes of urea. The rest is imported, he added. He said around 16.71 lakh tonnes of urea, 4.77 lakh tonnes of TSP, 5.63 lakh tonnes of DAP, and 5.08 lakh tonnes of MOP were needed only to produce Boro between November and March every year.