Cultivable land has increased in Sylhet district. More 12,600 hectares of uncultivated fallow land has been brought under cultivation in the district this year. Various types of vegetables including rice, mustard, and pineapple are being cultivated in these lands.
According to Sylhet Agricultural Extension Directorate, fallow land in Sylhet’s hilly areas and many croplands owned by expatriates are not being cultivated. The effect of leaving land uncultivated in this way is affecting crop production in the region.
In the country where crop intensity is 194 percent, it is 170 percent in the Sylhet division alone. Therefore, attention is paid to ensure that this fallow land comes under cultivation. In Sylhet this year, 84 thousand 700 hectares of arable land has been set for Borocrop, and 41 thousand 520 hectares for vegetable cultivation.
Besides, 12 thousand 600 hectares of uncultivated fallow land has been brought under cultivation.
Additional Deputy Director (PP) of Sylhet Agriculture Extension Department Mohammad Anichuzzaman said that Sylhet district has the most fallow land in Sylhet division. About 31 thousand hectares of land in the district is uncultivated. Because of the directives of the Prime Minister to make the country self-sufficient in the global crisis, some lands have come under cultivation as part of the initiative to bring fallow land under cultivation in Sylhet district this year. Different types of vegetables including paddy, mustard, and pineapple are being cultivated in these lands.
Anichuzzaman also said, “There is still a lot of uncultivated land in Sylhet. There is some uncultivated government land and some hills are being used. There are some fallow lands owned by expatriates. We are trying to bring them under cultivation. We are working at the grass roots level to motivate farmers and landowners. Mustard seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural inputs are being supplied to farmers at various times of the year”.
