BSS, Narsingdi :
Cultivation of Aromatic fine rice gained much popularity among the farmers in the district in recent years due to its bumper production and high price.
After achieving self-sufficiency in food grain, farmers of the district are now showing interest towards producing the export quality fine aromatic rice.
Every year, the cultivation of the variety is increasing for getting desired output against the crop. During the last two and three years, farmers are getting fair price of aromatic fine rice. They are now inspired to cultivate more aromatic fine rice, said Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Latafat Hossain.
This year, farmers brought 50 percent more land for cultivating the rice than the previous year. The DAE had fixed a target to cultivate the rice on 8,100 hectares of land this Aman season in six upazilas of the district and farmers produced 15,000 tonnes of rice.
The growers cultivated four varieties of aromatic fine rice-Kalijira, Tulshimala, Chinigura and Modumaloti-which is famous for special flavor and fineness. It is mostly used in preparing polao, biriani payesh, khichuri and zarda.
Abul Hashem of Adiabad village under Raipura upazila expressed his satisfaction over this season’s production as he cultivated Modumaloti and Chinigura varieties on 60 decimals of land and got 50 mounds of paddy.
Abdul Baten of Belabo upazila narrated the same that he cultivated kalijira variety on 80 decimals of land. He got good yield of rice and expressed his satisfaction over the fair price.
Latafat Hossain said the local DAE provided the farmers with logistic support including seeds, fertilizers and necessary equipments. Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) also distributed over 200 tonnes of high yielding varieties of aromatic fine rice seeds.
