Sonitpur Agriculture Department Launches Flood-Relief Paddy Nursery Initiative

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TEZPUR: In a proactive move to mitigate the impact of floods on the farming community, the Sonitpur District Agriculture Department launched a large-scale initiative to support farmers with free high-quality paddy seedlings under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) 2025–26.

As part of the plan, community paddy seedling nurseries have been developed across 14 agricultural circles in the district, covering over 100 hectares of farmland. The initiative is aimed at ensuring timely distribution of seedlings to farmers whose crops may be damaged during the monsoon-induced floods.

According to Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Dr Zakir Hussain, improved paddy varieties such as Bahadur Sub-1, BINA-10, CR Dhan-310, CR Dhan-802, Gitesh, and Numoli have been cultivated in nursery plots at locations including Depota, Ghoramari, Dhekiajuli, Rakshasmari, Jamuguri, Dhalaibil, Missamari, Thelamara, Bihaguri, Balipara, Chariduar, Silabandha, and Sirajuli.

The initiative officially began on Tuesday with a ceremonial seed sowing event at Bhoroli Chapori village under the Silabandha Agriculture Circle. The programme was inaugurated by District Agriculture Officer Naren Chandra Sharma, with the participation of Dr Zakir Hussain, Senior Agriculture Development Officer Ajit Pathak, agriculture officers Nitumoni Mahanta and Mantrishna Rajkhowa, District Media Expert Bitupan Saikia, and members of the local farming community. The sowing was carried out at the farmland of Chowkighat Farmers Producer Company, where paddy varieties like Bahadur Sub-1, BINA-10, CR Dhan-310, CR Dhan-802, and Numoli were planted. These nurseries will serve as the source of free seedlings to be distributed to farmers once floodwaters recede, ensuring quick resumption of cultivation.

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