BOGURA, May 9: Farmers in the district have started harvesting early ripe Boro paddy in fear of nor'wester and hailstorm.
According to field sources, within next ten days, all paddy fields will be ripe.
But, farmers are happy for good yielding of Boro paddy this year.
A farmer of Nandigram Village Abu Taleb said, "We are in panic of nor'wester wind and hailstorm."
District agriculture officials and farmers said, there is no agriculture labourer crisis. But the paddy cutting wage has been increased, compared to last year. Per bigha cutting charge is Tk 5,000-6,000 with one meal.
Usually, Boro paddy harvesting starts early in Nandigram Upazila.
Agriculture officials are expecting paddy production of 7,85,000 metric tons (mt) from 1,87,200 hectares (ha) of land in Bogura.
Assistant Agriculture Officer of the Department of Agriculture Extension-Bogura Farid Uddin said, till Tuesday, paddy cutting was ten per cent in the district. If there is no natural disaster, farmers will be able to lift their crop properly. There will be no labourer crisis, he added.
Farmer Firoze in Nandigram Upazila said, "We see bumper yielding. But if there is any natural disaster, we will be affected." This year, BR-28, Kathari, Minicat, BR-95 and 75 have been cultivated.
On a category basis, per maund paddy is selling at Tk 1,000 to 1,300.
Auto rice mills increased in Bogura, and they are purchasing raw paddies.
Farmer Matin of Nandigram said, they are expecting per bigha paddy production at 25/26 maunds.
Paddy production of high yielding Kathari Bhog is 22-26 to 28 maunds per bigha. Per bigha production of other species is 16-20 maunds.
This year fine species of paddy was cultivated on 1,69,200 ha of land, 18,909 ha of hybrid (coarse) and locals species of 865 ha.
