Paddy threshing underway in Kaunia, Rangpur. Boro paddy harvesting has begun in the Rangpur region. Five years ago, the agriculture office in this region had set a target of 449,000 hectares for Boro paddy cultivation in 2021.
That year, Boro paddy cultivation was recorded on about 50,000 hectares more than the target, that is, on 503,000 hectares of land.
After that, the target has not decreased.
This time, the target has been set at 503,000 hectares. 509,000 hectares of land have been cultivated there. Now, as far as nature can be touched, only the faint smell of Boro paddy is floating. Due to the shortage of paddy harvesters, agricultural seasonal workers from 5 districts of the Rangpur region are also in good shape.
Their value has increased. The workers are very happy as the price of agricultural labor has increased 5 to 6 times since the last few seasons. Since the price of paddy is normal in the market, farmers are also not stingy in paying more to the workers. Until Monday, 7 percent of the total paddy plantation has been harvested. The Agriculture Department has said that 20 percent more paddy will be in the farmers' barns within a week. Meanwhile, it has become difficult to find agricultural laborers to harvest and thresh paddy.
Workers are not available even at a daily wage of 600 to 700 taka. Several farmers, including Habibur Rahman of Mithapukur, Gaurang Roy of Rangpur Sadar, and Montu Mia, said that different varieties of Boro paddy are being bought and sold in the markets for up to 1,000 taka.
