Farmers in the district have stated Boro harvesting. But due to shortage of labourers and high wages, most farmers are having a tough time harvesting paddy in this peak season. Farmers say a day labourer charges Tk. 500-700. About 25 per cent Boro paddy had been harvested till May 12.

On the other hand, low prices of Boro in the local market are also worrying farmers.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said farmers cultivated Boro on 1,29,130 hectares with a production target of 5,23,937 metric tonnes (rice) in the district.

The office said farmers have cultivated Boro paddy of 61 hybrid varieties, 29 high yielding varieties (HYVs) and 15 local varieties. The hybrid varieties have been cultivated on 37,470 hectares, HYVs on 91,210 hectares and local varieties on 450 hectares.

The office said 33,715 hectares in Jamalpur Sadar upazila, 19,150 hectares in Sarishabari, 20,600 hectares in Melandaha, 16,900 hectares in Islampur, 9,100 hectares  in Dewanganj, 17,400 hectares in Madarganj and 12,265 hectares in Bakshiganj upazila have been brought under Boro cultivation.

DAE office sources said most farmers cultivated BRRI-29,BRRI-58 and BRRI-28 varieties of Boro paddy. The office said BRRI-29 was cultivated on 49,426 hectares, BRRI-58 on 19,880 hectares and BRRI-28 on 18,594 hectares.

Besides, farmers cultivated the BR-16 variety on 1,005 hectares, BR-26 on 1,475 hectares, Kali Boro on 321 hectares, Heera-1 on 650 hectares, Heera-2 on 1,385 hectares, Heera-4 on 770 hectares, Heera-6 on 600 hectares, Tiya on 985 hectares, Shakti-2 on 540 hectares, ACI-1 on 700 hectares, ACI-2 on 720 hectares, Tej on 3,465 hectares, SL8-H on 2,285 hectares, Rajlaxmi on 575 hectares, Tej gold on 7,905 hectares, Synzenta-1201 on 1,000 hectares, Synzenta-1203 on 2,000 hectares, Ispahani-2 on 675 hectares, Chhakka on 1,340 hectares and Pioneer on 2,040 hectares.

DAE sources said if the weather remains favourable, farmers will get bumper production of all varieties. The office said some paddyfields with the BRRI-28 variety were affected by the fungal disease "neck blast". The office said the disease had affected about 20 hectares.

Assistant deputy director (crops), DAE, Md Nuruzzaman, said farmers are expecting bumper production of Boro this year. He said this year farmers are prone to cultivating the hybrid variety of paddy for getting more production. The harvesting of Boro will continue till May 15, he added.