Mintu Abdur Rahman, Rangpur :
Harvesting of Aman paddy has gained momentum in Rangpur agriculture region this season. The farmers are delighted due to good price of the crop this year.
During last few years the paddy growers of the region failed to get fair price of their produce. They even could not recoup the production cost of the crop which made them disheartened. But this year the scenario is different as the farmers have been getting fair price of the paddy since the beginning of harvesting, sources said.
Presently per maund (40 Kg) paddy is being sold at Tk720 to Tk730 in different markets of the region which is expected to increase further, sources said. According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur sources farmers of five districts under the agriculture region brought over 5,85,000 hectares of land under cultivation of Aman this season and gave their best efforts to attain expected output. The districts are: Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat.
Expressing satisfaction over the expected yield and good price, Mofakkharul Islam Bakul, a paddy cultivator of Podaganj village of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur said that he has cultivated the crop on 3 acres of land this season and already completed harvesting of 60 percent of lands. As present market rate of the crop is good he is optimistic of making handsome profit from its sale, he added.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said the department has taken adequate measures to increase the farming and production of the paddy across the region.
The department provided the cultivators with necessary agri-inputs and suggestions and also helped the farmers for the utilisation of modern technologies, sources added ..
