The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has begun distributing high-yielding improved paddy seeds and chemical fertilizers to 20,200 farmers across 13 upazilas in the district to boost Boro production.
The initiative, aimed at promoting agricultural growth, is part of a broader effort to support local farmers with the right tools for enhanced rice cultivation.
The distribution, which began on Monday afternoon in Hakimpur upazila, covers 103 unions in the district, and will be completed by December 15.
According to Md. Afzal Hossain, Deputy Director of DAE, the program is focused on providing free high-yielding Boro paddy seeds and chemical fertilizers to farmers in the region.
As part of the agricultural incentives, the farmers will receive 5 kilograms of improved variety upashi paddy seeds along with 20 kilograms of chemical fertilizers – including 10 kg of DAP and 10 kg of MOP. These free resources will assist approximately 13,600 farmers in the district.
Additionally, 6,600 farmers will benefit from the distribution of hybrid paddy seeds, a breakthrough discovery by young researchers from the Bangladesh Agriculture Department. This year, 2 kg of these high-yielding hybrid seeds are being provided to each of the 6,600 farmers for cultivation.
The total amount of seeds being distributed this year includes 68 metric tons of upashi varieties and 13 metric tons of hybrid varieties, totaling 81 metric tons. Along with these, 272 metric tons of fertilizers will also be distributed, ensuring that farmers have the necessary resources to maximize their crop yields.
In Hakimpur upazila, the distribution program was officially inaugurated on Monday by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Amit Roy.
Arzina Begum, the Upazila Agriculture Officer, mentioned that 1,000 farmers in the upazila have received 2 kilograms of hybrid paddy seeds each. The expected yield from these hybrid varieties is projected to be approximately 35 maunds per bigha.
With the distribution underway, officials are optimistic that this initiative will not only improve production in the region but also encourage farmers to adopt more advanced agricultural practices.
