90pc paddy harvested so far in haors: Dr Razzaque

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque has said about 90 percent of paddy has been harvested so far in the haor region, expressing that this year a record 22 million tonnes of rice will be produced in the boro season, reports BSS.

He revealed this information at a press briefing in the conference room of the agriculture ministry in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.

Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter, senior officials of the ministry and the heads of organisations were present. 

Dr Razzaque said 49,00,076 hectares of land was targeted to be brought under boro cultivation in fiscal 2022-23 while boro paddy was cultivated on about 50 lakh hectares.

He said this year the production target is 2.15 crore metric tonnes of rice. "The condition of paddy in the field is good and paddy has also been harvested well in haors. Hopefully, 10 lakh tonnes more rice could be produced this year than the target," he added.

About the paddy price, the minister said farmers are getting a fair price for paddy as they are able to sell paddy at Taka 900 to 1200 per maund after harvesting from the field. 

He said about 4.52 lakh hectares of land was brought under boro cultivation this year in seven haor districts - Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Netrakona and Brahmanbaria.

In these seven districts, the total boro cultivation (including haors and upland outside haors) was 9.53 lakh hectares with a production target of four million tonnes of rice, he added.

Razzaque said about 91 percent of paddy has been harvested in Sylhet, while 97 percent in Moulvibazar, 80 percent in Habiganj, 96 percent in Sunamganj, 80 percent in Kishoreganj, 96 percent in Netrakona and 92 percent in Brahmanbaria.