Terming farmers as the heart of the country, Bangladesh's Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar on Tuesday (May 30, 2023) said that the aim of the government is to stand by the farmers. "Whether they cultivate mango or paddy, the interest of the farmers must be protected,” the minister said at the inauguration ceremony of mango harvesting and marketing in 2023 season in Sapahar's Godown Para area on Tuesday. The Food Minister said under the leadership of the Prime Minister, there has been a bumper yield of Boro, Aman paddy and mangoes as well and farmers are getting a fair price for paddy. "I hope they will also get a fair price for mangoes,” he added. Sadhan Chandra said now the supply of local fruits is quite good. “Dollars will be saved if fruits are not imported from abroad and the nutritional value of local fruits is also high.” Read more: Bumper yield of Boro paddy satisfies Madaripur farmers “There is an opportunity to export various fruits and we are exporting mangoes. As a result, mango farmers are benefiting. But the problem is that foreigners want to know whether the mangoes are safe or not. We cannot show them certificate.” He hoped that in future it will be possible to export more mangoes with certificate from the safe food directorate. Chaired by Sharmin Jahan, assistant commissioner (land) of Sapahar, Upazila Parishad Chairman Md. Shahjahan Hossain, Upazila Awami League President Md. Shamsul Alam Shah Chowdhury and agricultural worker Shapla Khatun were present  atthe programme. Later, the minister inaugurated the Fish Chattar in Jabai Beel and the Joy Bangla Chattar on the Upazila Parishad premises. Read more: Salinity-tolerant rice cultivation brings delight to Barguna farmers

Boro cultivation has brought smiles to the farmers of Madaripur district with a bumper yield this season. During a recent visit to different parts of the district, this correspondent found that farmers are busy harvesting boro paddy. Siraj Chokdar, 45, a farmer in Lakshiganj village of Sadar upazila, said, “I have brought several bighas of land under boro cultivation. This year's yield is quite good due to the favorable weather. The current price is also good – Tk 1,100 per maund. But if the price of paddy goes down, the farmer will lose,” he said. Read more: Bumper yield of Boro paddy brings smiles to Chapainawabganj farmers Merzon Khalasi, 50, another farmer of the same area, said that due to the increase in the price of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation and labour costs the production cost has shot up to Tk 800-900 to produce one maund paddy. Santosh Chandra, deputy director of District Agriculture Extension Department, said that 33,500 hectares of land have been cultivated in five upazilas of the district this year. Farmers have already harvested 80 percent of Boro paddy in the area and they are expected to benefit due to the bumper paddy yield and good market price of paddy, he added. Read more: 70% Boro paddy of haor areas harvested: Agriculture Ministry.

Boro farmers in Chapainawabganj district are expecting bumper yield this season as cultivation has exceeded the target and weather remained favourable so far. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), a total of 51,555 hectares of land have been brought under boro cultivation as the farmers are showing more interest in its cultivation . This year, the DAE has set a target to cultivate boro paddy on 51,150 hectares of land but the farmers cultivated 51,555 hectares exceeding the target, said deputy director of DAE, Palash Sarkar. They also expect to produce 2,35,606 metric tonnes of boro paddy this year, if the weather remains favorable and no crisis is created over fertilizer, pesticides and seed , he said. Also read: Food Minister for increasing zinc-enriched paddy cultivation During a recent visit to different parts of the district, this correspondent found that the farmers are passing busy time nurturing their green fields through irrigation, spraying pesticides and using fertilizers. Farmers are cultivating Ufsi and Hybrid varieties of paddy in their field as it is more profitable than the other varieties. Manjur Ali, a farmer in Sadar upazila said “I have bought eight bighas of land under boro cultivation. I did not face any shortage of seeds and fertilizers this year but the price of pesticides has shot up.” Akbar Ali, another boro grower, said “I have made a good profit after selling Aman paddy and no I have brought seven bighas of land under boro cultivation and there was no difficulty in irrigation due to uninterrupted power supply.” Abed Ali, another farmer in Dakkhinshohor area, said he has brought two bighas of land under Boro cultivation and the paddy plants are in good position. Besides, there is no attack of insects till now which created hope among them about getting bumper production of paddy.