Govt takes agri scheme to combat Monga in N region
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
RANGPUR, Oct 20 (UNB): The government has taken up a scheme to cultivate BRRI Dhan-33, a short duration variety of Aman paddy, in five districts to generate job opportunities for the Monga-stricken people of northern region district during off-season.
The scheme had been taken up to bring 40,000 hectares of land under the cultivation of the new variety, developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts to provide jobs for the labourers during the Bengali months of Ashwin and Kartik, which was usually off-season for them.
Farmers, as part of the scheme, have cultivated 10,000 hectares of land in the district. Of the total, 1,500 hectares of land have been cultivated each in Sadar and Pirganj upazilas, 1,000 hectares each in Taraganj and Kaunia upazilas, 1,142 hectares in Gangachara, 1,058 hectares in Badarganj, 1,600 hectares in Mithapukur and 1,200 hectares in Pirgaccha upazilas.
Official sources said the labourers usually remain unemployed during the two months as the traditional type of Aman need more time to be matured. But Ashwin and Kartik are the peak season of harvesting this new variety of paddy.
The day-labourers could easily be involved in harvesting the paddy during the off-season and make money and the farmers could also cultivate other crops on their land after the cultivation of BRRI Dhan-33.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed the variety and is implementing the programme with the help of its Rangpur Regional Office, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and a total of 31 non-government organisations in the northern region.
Farmers, who cultivated the high yielding variety on their land, have already started harvesting paddy and are expecting a bumper production.
The scheme had been taken up to bring 40,000 hectares of land under the cultivation of the new variety, developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts to provide jobs for the labourers during the Bengali months of Ashwin and Kartik, which was usually off-season for them.
Farmers, as part of the scheme, have cultivated 10,000 hectares of land in the district. Of the total, 1,500 hectares of land have been cultivated each in Sadar and Pirganj upazilas, 1,000 hectares each in Taraganj and Kaunia upazilas, 1,142 hectares in Gangachara, 1,058 hectares in Badarganj, 1,600 hectares in Mithapukur and 1,200 hectares in Pirgaccha upazilas.
Official sources said the labourers usually remain unemployed during the two months as the traditional type of Aman need more time to be matured. But Ashwin and Kartik are the peak season of harvesting this new variety of paddy.
The day-labourers could easily be involved in harvesting the paddy during the off-season and make money and the farmers could also cultivate other crops on their land after the cultivation of BRRI Dhan-33.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed the variety and is implementing the programme with the help of its Rangpur Regional Office, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and a total of 31 non-government organisations in the northern region.
Farmers, who cultivated the high yielding variety on their land, have already started harvesting paddy and are expecting a bumper production.