About 25,000 hectares are turning into double-crop lands in Sylhet district this year with cultivation of Irri-Boro in the current season for the first time. Loss of Amon paddy this year compelled farmers to cultivate Irri-Boro on the vast lands left fallow earlier. Farmers in large number in Sylhet Sadar, Golapganj, Beanibazar, Kanaighat, Zakiganj and Jaintapur upazilas are bringing the lands under paddy cultivation to recoup crop loss due to floods.

The Department of Environmental Science and Management of North South University (NSU) and Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Canada jointly organised a workshop on 'Curriculum development of masters programme in resource and environmental management' on NSU Campus in the city yesterday, says a press release. Rehana Rahman, chairman, Board of Governors, NSU Foundation, spoke on the occasion as the chief guest. The ceremony was presided over by Dr Hafiz GA Siddiqi, vice chancellor, NSU.

Short supply of fertiliser is affecting cultivation of Irri-Boro and rabi crops in Sidr affected 11 district in Barisal region. Despite constraints and financial hardship, farmers in the region are making all out efforts to recover the losses caused by Sidr but their hopes are being dashed by fertiliser crisis. Sources at fertiliser monitoring cell and Barisal regional office of Agriculture Extension Department (AED) said only 6,290 tonnes of TSP and urea were distributed among dealers and 17,500 tons were in stock till Thursday last against the demand for 40,200 tonnes in the region.