Despite the scorching heat, farmers across various villages in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar spend busy days harvesting ripe Boro paddy. Fearing unpredictable weather patterns, they work against time to bring the harvest home, even under the blazing sun.
Farmers say that due to the extreme heat, there is a shortage of farm laborers, forcing them to hire higher-wage workers to ensure timely harvesting.
This season, Boro farmers in Ukhiya are expecting a bumper yield. Full-scale harvesting is set to begin in the coming days. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Boro paddy has been cultivated on 6,400 hectares of land across five unions of the upazila, 200 hectares more than last year’s target.
Favorable weather conditions, an uninterrupted electricity supply ensuring proper irrigation, modern farming techniques, and timely care have all contributed to this optimistic outlook.
Mustak Ahmed, Assistant Agriculture Officer of Ukhiya upazila, said, “Boro paddy is ripening across vast fields. By next week, large-scale harvesting will be in full swing.”
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Polash Shikdar
