Dwoha Chowdhury

Boro paddy accounts for nearly 55 percent of Bangladesh’s yearly rice production

As farmers across the country worked in the fields on Saturday to bring in the season’s largest rice harvest, 10 of them were killed by lightning in seven districts.

The recent diesel price hike has made service providers increase charges for harvesting the largest rice crop, Boro, irrigating farmlands, and threshing the cash crop maize-- and farmers are struggling to cope.

The recent diesel price hike has made service providers increase charges for harvesting the largest rice crop, Boro, as well as for irrigating farmlands, and threshing maize -- leaving farmers struggling to cope.

Abdur Rahman, an elderly farmer from Bhukshimail union in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar, took loans to cultivate Boro paddy this season, hoping for a good harvest and some financial relief.

Farmer Tara Mia of Shailyani village in Rupeswar haor in Sunamganj’s Madhyanagar cultivated nearly six acres of Boro paddy, partly on his own and partly through sharecroppers.

Boro paddy cultivation has gradually expanded over the years, thanks to factors including wider access to irrigation, supportive weather, better prices and the return of once fallow land to the farming of staple rice.

For months, Sajidur Rahman’s family hoped the 28-year-old would reach Europe and change their fortunes.