Aman rice farming exceeds target in Rangpur region

RANGPUR, Sept 20 (BSS): Despite a drought-like situation due to less rainfall during the seedling transplantation period, farmers have exceeded the fixed target of Aman paddy farming by 0.05 per cent in Rangpur agriculture region.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said plants of Aman paddy are growing superbly following recent rainfalls making farmers happy after the recent drought-like situation in the region.
Farmers have engaged their all-out efforts in nursing their Aman paddy plants on vast tracts of crop lands that have worn an eye-catching look.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 18,07,916 tonnes of clean Aman rice (27,11,874 tonnes of paddy) from 6,15,685 hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in the region this season.
"Farmers have cultivated Aman paddy on 6,15,994 hectares of land, higher by 309 hectares or 0.05 per cent against the fixed farming target," Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Emdad Hossain Sheikh told the news agency on Tuesday.
The government undertook massive programmes to assist some flood-affected and drought-hit farmers in attaining the Aman paddy farming target.
The DAE distributed specially prepared Aman seedlings among flood-hit farmers free of cost and ensured irrigation facilities for transplantation of Aman seedlings amid less rainfall.
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Co_rporation, Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities and farmers put irrigation pumps into operation for transplantation of Aman seedlings and provide supplementary irrigation to crop fields this season.
Besides, late variety Aman seeds were distributed free of cost among the flood-hit farmers.
"Many flood-hit farmers have also cultivated late 'Ganjia' varieties of Aman paddy using seeds from their own stocks in affected areas," Hossain added.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman Mandal said field level agriculture officials are providing assistance and latest technologies to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman paddy.
"The government has taken special steps to ensure use of high quality seeds, smooth supply of fertilisers and fuels, prepare model seedbeds, balanced fertilisation and adoption of improved technologies to enhance rice production this season," he added.
Farmers Ariful Haque of village Najirdigar and Aiyub Ali of village Kathihara in Rangpur said their Aman plants would not require supplementary irrigation following frequent seasonal rainfalls.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said farmers have successfully adapted to adverse climatic conditions and drought-like situations and achieved the fixed farming target of Aman paddy this time.