BSS, Gaibandha :
Harvest of transplanted (T) Aman paddy, a high valued crop, ended in all the seven upazilas in the district this month amid much enthusiasm to the farmers.
Office sources said Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) set a target to cultivate T-Aman paddy on a total of 84,371 hectares of land in the district this year with the production target of 2,22,767 tonnes of rice.
The cultivation target was fully achieved after blissful rainfall though the transplantation of Aman seedlings was hampered at the initial ad middle stage of the season due to prevailing drought like situation.
The target fixed by the DAE was exceeded and the paddy was farmed on 1, 24,105 of land hectares bringing more 39,734 hectares of land till September 15 by virtue of favorable climatic condition during the current season.
As the T-Aman paddy grew well on the land during the current season, the growers harvested the crop amid much enthusiasm and got bumper production this season.
To make the cultivation programme a grand success, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) timely distributed high quality Aman seed to the farmers of the district at fair prices.
Besides, different state run commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) disbursed agri loans on easy terms to the poor and marginal farmers of the district to help them cultivate the T-Aman paddy on their land this season, sources said.
Additional deputy director of DAE Showkat Osman said favorable climatic condition, proper distribution of high quality seed by BADC and timely supply of fertilizers and other agri inputs to the growers were the reasons for getting desired production of the crop.
Talking to the BSS, director of DAE AKM Ruhul Amin said after ending the harvest of T-Aman paddy here the farmers were taking preparation to farm Boro paddy and for this seed beds on 8475 hectares of land were also prepared by the farmers.
