Aman production behind target in Rangpur
Monday, 11 October 2010
Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, Oct 10: Farmers in the Rangpur division might not achieve their target of Aman production as most of their yields contain thin yellow paddy having no grain substance within.
Agriculture experts as well as the farmers fear this could result in a shortfall in rice production in the country's northern region known as the nation's granary.
The advice from the agriculture extension department
to use more sulphur and potassium on the cropland did not work, local farmers claimed. They blamed the brown grasshoppers, which cannot be removed by spraying pesticides, for turning the grains into "Chita" - as the yellow paddy without grain substance is called. Agriculture field officials, however, denied the allegation of insects.
The agriculture extension department says Aman was cultivated on 10,70,370 hectares in eight districts of Rangpur division with a rice production target set at 48,16,670 tonnes.
Abed Ali (45) at Badarganj Upazila of Rangpur district said he cultivated Aman Paddy on 10 bighas of land but he had become disappointed as most of the Aman plants had been damaged by insects.
With the fall in yield this Aman season due to "Chita", rice production in the region might fall by 100,000 tonnes, official sources said.
RANGPUR, Oct 10: Farmers in the Rangpur division might not achieve their target of Aman production as most of their yields contain thin yellow paddy having no grain substance within.
Agriculture experts as well as the farmers fear this could result in a shortfall in rice production in the country's northern region known as the nation's granary.
The advice from the agriculture extension department
to use more sulphur and potassium on the cropland did not work, local farmers claimed. They blamed the brown grasshoppers, which cannot be removed by spraying pesticides, for turning the grains into "Chita" - as the yellow paddy without grain substance is called. Agriculture field officials, however, denied the allegation of insects.
The agriculture extension department says Aman was cultivated on 10,70,370 hectares in eight districts of Rangpur division with a rice production target set at 48,16,670 tonnes.
Abed Ali (45) at Badarganj Upazila of Rangpur district said he cultivated Aman Paddy on 10 bighas of land but he had become disappointed as most of the Aman plants had been damaged by insects.
With the fall in yield this Aman season due to "Chita", rice production in the region might fall by 100,000 tonnes, official sources said.