Over 27 lakh farmers are now getting seeds and fertilizer free of cost under a Taka 170 crore incentive package of the government for expansion of boro cultivation and production across the country.

The incentives are given from the agricultural rehabilitation cooperation segment of the agriculture ministry’s regular budget, said a handout today.

Over 50 percent of the incentive package has already been disbursed.

Farmers are getting the incentives in the categories. Over 15 lakh farmers are getting two-kilogram paddy seeds free under Taka 82 crore package for increasing the production of hybrid variety of paddy.

Besides, there are 12 lakh beneficiary farmers under Taka 73 crore incentive package for increasing production of high yielding varieties of paddy and under this package, each farmer is getting five-kilogram seeds, 10-kilogram Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and 10-kilogram Muriate of Potash (MoP_ fertilizers free for each bigha of land.

At the same time, the government is implementing a Taka 15 crore package for paddy planting and harvesting with machines. Under this package, 110 blocks will be set up in 61 districts and each block/exhibition will cover 50 acres of land while Taka 13.70 lakh will be spent for this block/exhibition.