Farmers in five districts under Rangpur agriculture region are expecting a good yield of short duration varieties of Aus paddy during the current season. Presently cultivation of the crop is going on in full swing across the region.
According to sources growers are showing much interest in Aus farming as it can be cultivated between Boro and Aman paddy. This variety of paddy has opened up a door of enormous prospects of boosting rice production. It has also shown immense potential in addressing food security, sources added.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur has set a target for Aus cultivation on around 22,198 hectares of land this season in five districts under the zone. The districts are: Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha.Of the total some 13,981 hectares are in Rangpur , 4,940 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 1,805 hectares in Kurigram, 390 hectares in Nilphamari and 1,082 hectares in Gaibandha, DAE sources said.
Monsur , a farmer of Abirerpara village under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur told The NEW Nation that he has cultivated the paddy on 3 bighas of his land this year and is optimistic to witness a bumper yield of the crop. Batin Ulla , a farmer of Basuniapara village at Charaikhola union in Nilphamari Sadar upazila said he has cultivated the paddy on one acre of land this season and is hopeful about a bumper production of his produce. Last year he also got an excellent yield of the paddy, he added.
Talking to The New Nation a number of farmers requested the authorities concerned to ensure adequate supply of Aus seeds so that they could enhance rice production through expanded farming of the variety of paddy.DAE, Rangpur official sources said that Aus paddy is drought tolerant and so many farmers are interested in its farming.
As consequence of the change of climate, various natural disasters are taking place, posing serious threat to food security. So there is no alternative to multiplied and intensified cultivation during disaster-freeperiods, sources added.
