A total of 4,080-bigha of land in the district have been brought under the cultivation of Pariza paddy, an indigenous variety, during the current season.
RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed non-government organization, motivated the farmers to farm the paddy under its core programme funded by Church of Sweden.
The objective of the Pariza paddy farming was to help the farmers get additional crop during the off-season in a bid to earn economical profit side by side with achieving the country’s food security.
To create working opportunities to the farm day labours during the lean period and help them pass their days without economical troubles was also the objective of the paddy farming.
To inspire the farmers to farm four crops-short duration Aman paddy, potato or mustard, Mungbean and Pariza paddy systematically on a land in year avoiding highly cost Boro cultivation was another objective of the paddy farming.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Mir Abdur Razzak said generally, after completing the harvest of early variety Boro paddy in April the land remained fully fallow for about three months at a stretch till starting T-Aman paddy farming at the end of July.
As the land remained fallow during the middle period between Boro and Aman season, the farmers could easily produce short duration Parija Paddy in natural rain water on the uncultivated land, he added.
Mamunur Rashid, coordinator, agriculture and environment unit of RDRS Bangladesh, said the paddy could be harvested in 90 days after sowing seeds by using Direct Seeded Rice method or in 75 days after transplanting 20-day old seedlings.
Of the total, some 3000 bighas were brought under the farming in Sundarganj upazila, 1030 in Sadar upazila and 30 in Palashbari upazila in the district, said Saiful Islam, assistant agriculture officer of RDRS Bangladesh.
