BSS, Rajshahi :
Farmers are passing their busiest times in aman paddy transplantation everywhere in the region including its vast Barind tract at present, expecting 20.14 lakh tonnes Aman Rice production.
Suitable climate condition coupled with frequent rainfall helps farmers transplant aman paddy easily.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target of producing more than 20.14 lakh metric tons of transplanted Aman Rice from 7.24 lakh hectares of land in all eight districts under Rajshahi division this season.
The enthusiastic farmers are now very busy in transplanting T-Aman seedlings amid suitable climate condition with frequent rainfall.
Deb Dulal Dhali, Additional Director of DAE, said congenial weather is helping the farmers’ transplant Aman seedlings this season and the fixed target is expected to be achieved.
“I have taken preparation of bringing six bighas of land under aman paddy farming. Existing rainfall has become helpful for the farming,” said Tariqul Islam, a farmer of Gollapara village under Tanore Upazila in Rajshahi district.
Zaidur Rahman, another farmer of Karnahar village under Paba Upazila, said the farmers hope better yield of Aman paddy as the cultivation of Aman paddy
requires less cost compared to other crops. He added that they are not facing any problem in plantation of T-Aman seedlings as they experience sufficient seasonal rainfall.
Dr Aminul Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), said BRRI has developed seven modern paddy varieties for Aman season for welfare of the common farmers in the region particularly in its vast Barind tract.
The varieties like Brridhan71, Brridhan75, Brridhan80, Brridhan87 and Brridhan90 are comparatively high yielding, drought tolerant and short duration than local variety ‘Swarna’ which is prone to various diseases and insects always affect paddy.
Dr Islam also mentioned that Parija and Swarna varieties are being replaced by some of the developed varieties, boosting aman output.
BSS from Panchagarh adds: Farmers of the district have started Aman cultivation with much enthusiasm.
With the advent of monsoon early this year, the weather condition was fabourable for the Aman cultivation, farmer said.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) about 81,000 hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation in all five upazilas of the district with the production target 3,22,000 tonnes of rice.
Now the farmers are passing their busy time for transplanting Aman seedling.
The DAE has supplied seeds, fertilizers among farmers free of cost to achieve the production target.
Side by side the department has also imparted training to the farmers to make them acquainted with the modern methods of Aman cultivation.
