RANGPUR, Sept 20, 2022 (BSS) - Despite a drought-like situation due to less
rainfall during the seedling transplantation period, farmers have exceeded
the fixed target of Aman rice farming by 0.05 percent in Rangpur agriculture
region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) tender plants of
Aman rice are growing superbly following recent rainfalls making farmers
happy after the recent drought-like situation in the region.
 
Farmers have engaged their all-out efforts in nursing their growing Aman rice
plants on vast tracts of crop lands that have worn an eye-catching look.
 
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 18,07,916 tonnes of clean Aman rice
(27,11,874 tonnes of paddy) from 6,15,685 hectares of land for all five
districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in the
region this season.
 
"Farmers have cultivated Aman rice on 6,15,994 hectares of land, higher by
309 hectares or 0.05 percent against the fixed farming target," Additional
Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Emdad Hossain Sheikh told
BSS today.
 
The government undertook massive programs to assist some flood-affected and
drought-hit farmers in attaining the fixed Aman rice farming target.
 
The DAE distributed specially prepared Aman rice seedlings among flood-hit
farmers free of cost and ensured irrigation facilities for transplantation of
Aman rice seedlings amid less rainfall.
 
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Barind Multipurpose
Development Authorities and farmers put irrigation pumps into operation for
transplantation of Aman rice seedlings and provide supplementary irrigation
to crop fields this season.
 
Besides, late variety Aman rice seeds were distributed free of cost among
flood-hit farmers who have already broadcasted those on their affected
croplands.
 
"Many flood-hit farmers have also cultivated late 'Ganjia' varieties of Aman
rice using seeds from their own stocks in affected areas," Hossain added.

Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman
Mandal said field level agriculture officials are providing assistance and
latest technologies to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman rice.
 
"The government has taken special steps to ensure use of high quality seeds,
smooth supply of fertilizers and fuels, prepare model seedbeds, balanced
fertilization and adoption of improved technologies to enhance rice
production this season," he added.
 
Talking to BSS, a number of farmers of different villages here said their
tender Aman rice plants were growing superbly amid favourable climatic
conditions now.
 
Farmers Ariful Haque of village Najirdigar and Aiyub Ali of village Kathihara
in Rangpur said their growing Aman rice plants would not require
supplementary irrigation following frequent seasonal rainfalls.
 
"The superbly growing tender Aman rice plants have created greenish blankets
on vast tracts of crop fields predicting a bumper rice production despite a
prolonged drought-like situation," Haque said.

Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur
Rashid said farmers have successfully adapted to adverse climatic conditions
and drought-like situations and achieved the fixed farming target of Aman
rice this time.
 
He predicted a bumper production of Aman rice as the tender plants are
growing excellent now following recent rainfalls despite a drought-like
situation during the transplantation periods of seedlings in Rangpur
agriculture region.