A partial view of Aman paddy at a village of Gaibandha district — FE Photo 
Farmers have cultivated transplanted Aman on a large scale in different districts this season as floods damaged Aman, Aus and other crops.
Agriculture officers said farmers have gone for the Aman farming to a large scale to recoup the crop loss.
Our Correspondent from Sylhet reports, Aman farming continued till the end of September as water receded late from many croplands, farmers said.
When contacted, Md Matiuzzaman, additional director at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Sylhet, has said that T-Aman has been cultivated on 428,126 hectares of land in the division this season.
The highest 144,382 hectares of land have been brought into the Aman farming in Sylhet district, 98,033 hectares in Moul-vibazar, 87,703 hectares in Habiganj and 83,495 hectares in Sunamganj district.
The production target has been set at 1154,031 tonnes of rice in the districts of Sylhet division, the additional director said.
The floods damaged seedbeds on 21,918 hectares of land, he said.
Meanwhile, the government provided incentives in seed and fertilisers to 10,800 flood-hit farmers in Sylhet division to cultivate Aman on one bigha land.
Besides, some other farmers were given only seedbed costs, while others were assisted with fertilisers and seeds under rehabilitation programme in the division.
It would help the poor farmers to cultivate T-Aman on one bigha each, the official added.
Farmer Abdul Hasib of Baushi in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet said cost of seed was higher this time due to an increased demand.
The floods in June washed away Aus crops on all of his 10 bigha land, said farmer Ataur Rahman of Dakshin Surma upazila.
"Due to late water recession amid repeated floods, we had to go for Aman cultivation in delay," he said.
"However, I T-Aman of BR 49 and BR 87 varieties on my highland," he added.
Meanwhile, a number of farmers like Abdul Bari of Golapganj said high cost of urea fertiliser would cause trouble for Aman farming. Often rural dealers take extra money during the peak time.
Another farmer, Ali Akbar, said he brought 05 bighas of land into Aman farming after floods damaged Aus crop.
A BADC official said that they were closely monitoring the dealers so that none can take extra money from farmers.
Our Gaibandha Correspondent says, the Aman production target has been fixed at 396,407 tonnes this year.
According to the sources at Department of Agri-cultural Extension (DAE), 133,020 hectares of land has been brought into T-Aman cultivation in Gaibandha to achieve this production target this season.
Farmers of seven upazilas of the district have completed cultivation of Aman paddy on their land. Some early paddy harvest has already started.
Local DAE provided training for farmers in rice cultivation, crop management, specific use of fertilisers, improved quality seed storage and modern technology training for Aman paddy plantation.
Khorshed Alam, deputy director at Gaibandha DAE, told The Financial Express that the production target of Aman rice in the district has been set at 3,96,407 tonnes.
To achieve this target, 1 33020 hectares of land has been brought into Aman cultivation.
The yield of Aman paddy has been good this time due to rain and good weather. Farmers are satisfied with it.
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