RANGPUR, Oct 7, 2024 (BSS) - Despite a drought-like situation during the
seedling transplantation stage, farmers are now expecting a bumper production
of Aman rice in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have
already started harvesting short-duration varieties of Aman rice while tender
plants of the crop are growing superbly everywhere following recent
rainfalls.
 
Enthusiastic farmers are nursing their growing Aman rice plants on vast
tracts of crop land that have worn an eye-catching glance in all five
districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in the
region.
 
Earlier, the government had fixed a target of producing 19,17,672 tonnes of
clean Aman rice (28,76,508 tonnes of paddy) from 6,20,275 hectares of land
this season for the region.
 
Farmers have finally brought 6,20,362 hectares of land under Aman rice
cultivation exceeding the fixed farming target by 0.01 percent braving the
drought-like situation during the seedling transplantation period.
 
"We are expecting a bumper production of Aman rice in the region where
farmers have already begun harvesting early varieties of the crop,"
Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Obaidur
Rahman Mondal said.
 
The present interim government constantly gave directions to the DAE and
other agriculture-related organisations to take all necessary steps to assist
farmers and make the Aman rice farming program successful.
 
The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Barind
Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), Teesta Barrage Project ensured
irrigation facilities for transplantation of Aman rice seedlings amid less
rainfall.

 "The BADC and BMDA and farmers put irrigation pumps into operation and the
Teesta Barrage Project supplied water through canals to assist farmers in
transplanting Aman rice seedlings this season," Mondal said.
 
The field level agriculture officials are continuously providing assistance
and technological support to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman
rice.

"The DAE has taken special steps to ensure use of high quality seeds, smooth
supply of fertilisers and fuels, prepare model seedbeds, balanced
fertilization and adoption of improved technologies to increase Aman rice
yield this time," Mondal said.
 
In addition, the DAE and other related organizations conducted motivational
and training programs to help farmers adapt to adverse climate and drought-
like conditions and achieve specific cultivation targets for Aman rice
cultivation.
 
Despite a short-term flash flood last week, standing crops in 1,616 hectares
of lands, including Aman rice in 1,417 hectares, were submerged under
floodwater in 17 upazilas of Rangpur region.

"However, no damage has been caused to the inundated Aman rice crop for
quicker recession of floodwater within three to four days since submergence.
Production of Aman rice will not be affected," he said.
 
Farmers Manik Miah, Solaiman Ali and Nur Muhammad of different villages in
Sadar, Badarganj and Pirganj upazilas of Rangpur said their growing Aman rice
plants would not require any more supplementary irrigation following recent
rainfalls.
 
Mamtaz Uddin, a farmer of Puthimari village in Rangpur Sadar upazila, said
that he already harvested his short-duration early variety Aman paddy on
Sunday, got a good yield and sold it at Taka 1,250 per mound (every 40 kg).