District Correspondent, Sylhet: In the haors of Gowainghat, Boro paddy harvesting is underway to the tunes of traditional songs. With bumper yields, farmers are smiling with joy. Amidst the greenery, golden paddy stalks sway in the breeze. Under the sun by day and rain by night, green paddy plants are turning into golden dreams of farmers through Boro crops. These crops not only fulfill the annual food needs of farmers but also help them manage other household expenses.
This year too, the bumper yield of Boro crops has encouraged the farmers of Gowainghat upazila to immerse themselves in harvesting despite the scorching heat of Chaitra. In the vast expanse of haors, the aroma of golden paddy blends with the green surroundings. Harvesting has started in patches, particularly for those who planted early Boro paddy.
In the middle of the haor, farmers spread jute sacks to thresh and winnow the harvested paddy. Women at home are busy drying the grains under the sun and storing them. So far, the favorable weather has brought smiles to the farmers’ faces, although concerns about hailstorms and labor shortages remain. Even so, from dawn to dusk, farmers persist with their sickles in hand. A festive mood prevails as farmers strive to store their hard-earned crops in granaries. Farmers and laborers are engaged in various tasks: cutting paddy from the fields, transporting it to the threshing floor, drying it under the sun, using machines for cutting and threshing, or following traditional methods for threshing and winnowing. Some are busy bagging the grains.
Abdus Salam, a farmer from Nawa Gaon village, said, “This year, the paddy has turned out well. We are able to harvest and store it before Baishakh begins. It feels great to bring home the fruits of our labor. If the haor farmers get a month’s time, it will be possible to bring all the paddy home.”
