Cultivation of aromatic rice on the rise

NILPHAMARI, Jan 7: Cultivation of aromatic rice is increasing in Nilphamari district because of its high value and huge demand. Cultivation of the paddy has already spreaded in all the six upazilas of Domar, Dimla, Jaldhaka, Kishorgonj, Saidpur and NIlphamari sadar upazila and its cultivation area is increasing year on year.

DAE sources said farmers got bumper production of different varieties of aromatic rice at an average yield of 3.02 tonnes per hectare in the immediate past transplanted Aman season. The farmers cultivated the varieties in 3315 hectares of land and production was 10,000 tonnes.

Sources said the price of the paddy in the existing market is Tk 2,000 per maund (40 kg), that encouraged the farmers to cultivate the crop.

The farmers cultivated BRRI 34, BRRI 37, Kalijira, Kataribhog, Chinigura, Basmati, Nonia and such other varieties.

However, absence of improved husking and processing technology in the district is hindering the farmers to earn more profit in cultivating aromatic variety paddy which need specialized husking method.

DAE sources said Basmati, Chinigura, Kalijira, BRRI 34, Kataribhog, varieties of aromatic rice are of international demand.

While contacted Abdur Rahman, a farmer of Chatnai UP of Dimla upazil said he cultivated Kalijira variety aromatic paddy in two bighas of land where his production was 24 maunds which he sold at a total prices of Tk 40,000 while his total cost was Tk 12,000 only.

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