Distribution of Taka 6.26 crore as special incentives among the farmers of 11 northern districts continues in full swing for enhancing Aus cultivation during this season, official sources said today.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, the government has fixed a target of producing over 6.62 lakh tonne Aus rice from over 2.57 lakh hectares of land this year in the northern districts after repeated bumper production in recent years.
During the last year, the farmers achieved bumper production of the off-season Aus rice as an additional crop through producing over 5.72 lakh tonne clean rice from over 2.22 lakh hectares of land exceeding the fixed farming target in the area.
Under the programme, the farmers will produce 27,302 tonne hybrid variety Aus rice from 9,255 hectares of land, over 4.76 lakh tonne high yielding variety from over 2.04 lakh hectares and 58,705 tonne local variety Aus rice from 44,139 hectares of land this season.
Talking to BSS today, Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khondaker Md Mesbahul Islam said the national production target of Aus has been fixed at 24.28 lakh tonne clean rice from 11.60 lakh hectares of land throughout the country during the current season.
The farmers have already started sowing Aus seeds from March 15 last while transplantation of Aus seedlings will begin soon by this month end.
Under the special incentive package for enhancing Aus cultivation this season, the process of distribution of Aus seeds and fertilisers worth over Taka 6.26 crore among 50,740 beneficiary farmers continues now.
Of them, each of 48,765 beneficiary farmers is getting 5 kg high yielding variety 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 on 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 on one bigha of land this season.
Deputy Director of the DAE Feroz Ahmed informed the national news agency that the government has been providing necessary assistance to the farmers to encourage them in expanding Aus cultivation to increase rice production in recent years.
Noted rice scientist and Associate Director -Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr MA Mazid highly appreciated the government incentives in enhancing Aus farming to ensure the national food security through increasing rice production.
