Sylhet farmers cultivate Aman to recoup flood loss

The farmers of Sylhet division have started cultivating Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) paddy to recoup the crop loss by the floods in different districts.

Farmers are planting Aman seedlings in seven upazilas of Gaibandha district.

In Sylhet, many farmers are now preparing seedbeds on the land where from the flood water receded in the last few days.

A target has been set to cultivate T-Aman on 21,460 hectares of land in four districts of Sylhet division, said DAE additional director Md Matiuzzaman.

Meanwhile, the government gave seeds and fertilisers in incentives to 14,800 poor and marginal farmers in Sylhet while another 14,000 flood-hit farmers are being assisted with seeds and fertilis0ers.

"Distribution of agri-inputs among farmers is going on," the agricultural officer said.

The division's target of production had been set at over 1.1 million tonnes of rice from 418,000 hectares, sources informed.

In most areas, farmers are busy preparing land and already engaged in setting seedbeds, said farmer Abdul Bari of Turukbag village in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet.

However, Abdul Malik of Alirgaon in Gowainghat upazila said that as most of the cropland went inundated again with excessive rain, farmers cannot work for T-Aman. They have to wait for recession of water again.

Last season, T-Aman farming was a good one with overall favourable weather. The target was surpassed in the region.

In Gaibandha, extensive cultivation of Aman paddy has started in all the upazilas of the district. This year, the agriculture department has set a target of cultivation of Aman paddy on 133,020 hectares of land in this district.

Visiting different areas of the district, farmers were seen spending a busy time planting Aman paddy seedlings.

As there is no rain even during the full monsoon, those who have grown Aman dependent on monsoon water are in the most trouble.

Farmers fear failure of their crops as well as disruption of the agriculture department's production targets.

Many are trying to protect crops by irrigating the land using machines.

Akhil Chandra, a farmer of Goailbari village, told the Financial Express, "I've planted Aman in 04 bigha of land. Due to lack of rain, the land has dried up. I am irrigating the land to save the crop."

Gaibandha District Agriculture Extension Directorate Deputy Director Md Khorshed Alam told the Financial Express that the target of Aman paddy cultivation has been set on 133,020 hectares of land in Gaibandha this year.

And various suggestions are being given to the farmers at the field level by the agriculture department on the cultivation of Aman rice.

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