RANGPUR, July 13 (BSS); Plantation of seedlings of Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) paddy has already begun in Rangpur agriculture region and the process will get full momentum by this month-end.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the government has set a target of producing about 18.08 lakh tonnes of clean Aman rice (about 27.12 lakh tonnes of paddy) from over 6.15 lakh hectares of land for the region.
The target includes production of 15,47,403 tonnes of high yielding varieties of Aman rice from 5,32,115 hectares of land, 2,24,765 tonnes of hybrid varieties of Aman rice from 64,035 hectares and 35,748 tonnes of local varieties of Aman paddy from 19,535 hectares of land.
Meanwhile, farmers have so far prepared Aman paddy seedbeds on 32,080 hectares of land against the requirement of preparing the same on 30,469 hectares of land for cultivation of the crops on the targeted 6,15,685 hectares of land area in the region.
"Farmers have already transplanted Aman paddy seedlings on 6,388 hectares of land until Tuesday in all five districts of the region," Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Emdad Hossain Sheikh told the news agency.
The government has taken special steps to ensure use of high quality seeds, prepare model seedbeds and ensure balanced fertilisation and adoption of improved technologies to enhance rice production despite lessening of cultivable land area.
"Considering the possibility of further floods this season, we have taken special measures to prepare more seedbeds, if required, so that the farming process of Aman paddy was not affected under any circumstances in the region," he said.
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities (BMDA) and farmers have kept irrigation pumps ready to operate for Aman paddy seedling transplantation in case of less rainfall or droughts.
"Field level agriculture officials of the DAE are providing necessary assistance and latest technologies to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman paddy across the region," Hossain said.
Besides, ample steps have been taken to prepare late varieties of Aman paddy seedbeds on highlands and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas so that there was no crisis of seedlings for floods, if any, during July and August months this season.
"Enthusiastic farmers are transplanting Amn paddy seedlings alongside preparing croplands for transplantation of seedlings in all five districts of the region where a favorable climate condition is prevailing for the purpose," Hossain added.
Talking to the news agency, bigger farmers Ariful Haque Batul of village Najirdigar and Manik Miah of village Darshona in Rangpur Sadar said they have already prepared seedbeds and will begin transplantation of Aman paddy seedlings on their crop lands from next week.
Farmers Echhahaq Ali, Aiyub Ali, Mohsin Ali and Mofazzal Hossain of village Kathihara in Rangpur Sadar said they have started transplantation of Aman paddy seedlings in their croplands after preparing necessary seedbeds.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman Mandal said farmers are transplanting Aman paddy seedlings with huge enthusiasm aiming at achieving the fixed farming target of the major cereal crop to ensure food security.
