(BSS) - Farmers across the Khulna agricultural region have begun preparing seedbeds for Boro rice cultivation with great enthusiasm as the season advances in full swing.

Alongside harvesting Aman paddy and sowing early potato and winter vegetable seeds, growers in the region are actively preparing seedbeds for early Boro varieties.

Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for the Khulna region, said the Boro seedbed preparation process has already gathered strong momentum.

"Early planting of Boro seedlings in low-lying and coastal areas will begin from mid-December so that farmers can complete the harvest before the next monsoon and avoid crop damage from early rains or flooding," he said.

He added that transplantation of Boro seedlings-especially in saline-prone areas-will gain full momentum from mid-January and continue until late February or early March.

Till Wednesday, farmers have prepared Boro seedbeds on 2,138 hectares of land, achieving 115.5 percent of the target set so far, he added.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), has set a record target of producing 12,10,283 tonnes of clean Boro rice (equivalent to 1,81,54,217 tonnes of paddy) from 2,64,719 hectares of land in the Khulna agricultural region this season.

Of the total target -- 8,01,696 tonnes of hybrid Boro rice will be produced from 1,62,970 hectares, 4,08,299 tonnes of high-yielding varieties from 1,01,607 hectares, and 288 tonnes of local Boro rice from 142 hectares of land.

Extensive measures have been undertaken to support farmers in the Boro cultivation programme during the current Robi season, ensuring increased rice production.

The government is providing special incentives to encourage farmers to bring more land under Boro cultivation and ensure the proper management of this major cereal crop.

Once Aman harvesting concludes in mid-December, farmers in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail districts are expected to devote full efforts to make the Boro cultivation programme a success.

The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Rural Electrification Board, and agricultural banks are working together to supply quality seeds, fertilisers and reliable power for uninterrupted irrigation.

Field-level DAE officials will also provide technical support and promote the use of modern technology to help farmers achieve higher yields amid growing climate challenges.

Professor Monirul Islam Ripon of the Agro-Technology Discipline at Khulna University told BSS, farmers achieve maximum yield when Boro seedlings are transplanted by the second week of February.

He recommended using the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation method and ensuring proper agronomic practices to boost yield while reducing irrigation costs and saving groundwater.

Farmers Sheikh Mahtab, Farid Khan and Muzahedul Islam of Dumuria upazila said they plan to bring more land under Boro cultivation this year.

Sheikh Harun-ur-Rashid of South Bedkashi in Koyra upazila said he began preparing seedbeds in late November to cultivate Boro rice on his five acres of land this season.

Agriculturist Foyez Mina of Khulna DAE told BSS today, Boro seedbed preparation is progressing in full swing across all four districts in the Khulna agri zone, with 15.5 percent of planting completed so far.

District-wise progress includes 12.8 percent in Khulna, 25.7 percent in Bagerhat, 8.7 percent in Satkhira, and 16.9 percent in Narail.

"Boro paddy production may exceed projections if favourable weather prevails in the coming months," he added.