The special government incentives, being provided directly to the farmers, have become effective in popularizing cultivation of short duration Aus rice in the northern regions, official sources said.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, production of Aus crop has been increasing every year in recent times which will help ensure food security in the country.
“Aus farming during the off-season between Boro harvest and Aman transplantation, when the cultivable land remains fallow, has become popular following huge incentives for the farmers,” said Horticulture Specialist of DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.
He said sowing of Aus seeds is continuing in full swing while transplantation of Aus seedlings will begin very soon in the region.
According to DAE sources, to enhance Aus cultivation, Taka 6.26 crore has been distributed as special incentives among the farmers of 11 northern districts.
Under the special incentive package, this season the government has been distributing high quality Aus seeds and fertilisers worth Taka 6.26 crore among 50,740 beneficiary farmers in the region.
Of them, each of 48,765 beneficiary farmers is getting 5 kg Aus seeds, 20 kg urea, 10 kg Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), 10 kg Murrieta of Potash (MoP) fertilisers and Taka 300 for irrigation purpose to cultivate Aus in one bigha land.
Besides, each of another 1,975 beneficiary farmers is getting 10 kg Nerico Aus seeds, 20 kg urea, 10 kg DAP and 10 kg MoP fertilisers, Taka 300 for irrigation and Taka 300 for weed cleaning to cultivate Nerica Aus in one bigha land.
Meanwhile, the government has fixed a target of producing 6.62 lakh tonne clean Aus rice from 2.57 lakh hectares land in the region this time due to repeated bumper production in recent years.
Under the programme, the farmers will produce 27,302 tonne hybrid Aus rice from 9,255 hectares land, 4.76 lakh tonne high yielding Aus from 2.04 lakh hectares land and 58,705 tonne local variety Aus rice from 44,139 hectares land.
Renowned rice scientist and Associate Director- Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr MA Mazid hailed the government incentives for expanding cultivation of the less irrigation water consuming Aus rice as an additional crop.
He suggested the farmers for expanded cultivation of Aus, mostly using unused rainwater during May, June and July, adopting the latest technologies to ensure national food security amid adverse climate change.
