Aus cultivation on rise in Jamalpur

JAMALPUR, Aug 3 (BSS): Aus paddy cultivation in the district is increasing gradually as farmers are becoming interested in earning extra profit from it.

Most of the farmers in the district after harvesting BRRI-28, a short duration variety, cultivated Aus paddy of BRRI-48.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said BRRI-48 is the latest variety of Aus having drought tolerance and it is high-yielding. As a result, farmers are very much eager to cultivate the paddy.

According to DAE sources, 1,838 hectares of land have been brought under Aus cultivation this year which is 425 hectares more than the last year.

Aus paddy was cultivated on 35 hectares of land in sadar upazila, 52 hectares in Sarishabari upazila, 150 hectares in Melandah upazila, 305 hectares in Madarganj upazila, 873 hectares in Islampur upazila, 355 hectares in Dewanganj upazila and 68 hectares in Bakshiganj upazila, the sources said.

When contacted, Upazila Agriculture Officer, Islampur, Md Matiar Rahman said a large number of land in Islampur upazila of the district came under Aus paddy cultivation this year.