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Gopalganj is a food surplus district. In the last 2022-2023 fiscal year, there is a food surplus of 1 lakh 62 thousand 186 metric tons in 5 upazilas of this district. Boro paddy and wheat have been cultivated in more than the target area. Along with that bumper yield of paddy and wheat has been achieved. Besides, the farmers got a good yield of paddy in Aush and Aman seasons. Due to these reasons, surplus food has been produced in the last financial year, according to the deputy director of Gopalganj Khambarari of the Department of Agriculture, A. Quader Sardar.
The agriculture official said that 4 lakh 32 thousand 810 metric tons of rice was produced in Gopalganj district in the last financial year. Besides, farmers have produced 16 thousand 640 metric tons of wheat. In all, 4 lakh 49 thousand 450 metric tons of food has been produced. The total population of Gopalganj district is 13 lakh 10 thousand 853 people. The daily food requirement per person is 487.6 grams. Accordingly, the food demand of the total number of people in Gopalganj in 1 year and 365 days is 2 lakh 33 thousand 330 metric tons. 53 thousand 934 metric tons are required for seeds and other purposes in the district. In 5 upazilas of the district, the total demand for food, seeds, and other materials is 2 lakh 87 thousand 264 metric tons. Accordingly, 1 lakh 62 thousand 186 metric tons of food surplus has been produced in the district.
Tungipara Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Jamal Uddin said the land of Tungipara Upazila is very fertile. The land of this upazila has a lot of organic matter. Here all types of paddy yield more than expected. Besides, Boro rice is cultivated on 200 hectares of land more than the target. Due to these reasons, surplus food has been produced.
Kotalipara Upazila Agriculture Officer Nitul Roy said, in this upazila, during the last Boro season, about 1,000 hectares of waterlogged and uncultivated land were cultivated. Here the production capacity of the LL-8 variety of BADC is 7/8 ton per hectare. But in Kotalipara upazila, the maximum yield of this rice was found up to 9/10 tons. The yield of Hira hybrid rice is 8 tons per hectare. Here the yield of this rice is 11 tons. Besides, BRRI hybrid rice-3, BRRI hybrid rice-5, BRRI rice-67, and Bangabandhu rice-100 developed by Rice Research Institute have given the highest yield in all the Boro season varieties of BRRI. No paddy was lost during Boro paddy cutting season. Farmers of Kotalipara upazila have benefited by getting more yield of paddy. Also, their food security has been ensured.
Kabir Alam Ghazi (52), a farmer of Dumaria village of Tungipara upazila, said, I was cultivating hybrid and inbred varieties of rice in advance on my 5 bigha land. Each variety yielded more than expected. I was able to cut the paddy and bring it home before the rain storm. So there was no damage to the rice.
Aziz Khandkar (54), a farmer of Atashibari village of Kotalipara upazila, said that my 10 bigha land has yielded a bumper crop of rice. Our seedbeds, paddy planting, tending, and harvesting are done by machines. Due to this, we got at least 11 metric tons of yield per hectare. Compared to conventional paddy cultivation, mechanized cultivation has yielded about 2 tonnes per hectare more. At least 40% cost saving in paddy production. I have benefited by bringing home more paddy at less cost.
Gopalganj Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mafroza Akhtar said that farmers of Gopalganj have adopted the modern techniques of rice cultivation. So they are cultivating hybrid and high-yielding varieties of rice. With training and advice, farmers have revolutionized food in Gopalganj. So Gopalganj has become known as a surplus district in food production for 15 years. This ensures the food security of our country.
Source:
Online/GFMM
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