Rangpur farmers cheer as Aush paddy harvest begins

RANGPUR, July 14 (BSS): Harvesting of Aush paddy continues in full swing with excellent output, making the farmers happy in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region this season.
Officials of the Depart-ment of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers will transplant Aman paddy seedlings on the same land after completing harvest of the less water consuming and short duration Aush rice crop by mid-August next.

Earlier, the DAE set a target of bringing 65,000 hectares of land to produce over 3,08,188 tonnes of paddy for all five districts of the region this season.
"Farmers have finally brought 63,680 hectares of land under Aush paddy cultivation, only 1,320 hectares less than the fixed farming target," said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur Region Md. Emdad Hossain Sheikh.
However, recent floods damaged standing Aush paddy crop on 2,175 hectares of land in the region.
Meanwhile, farmers have already harvested Aush paddy on 28,328 hectares until Wednesday producing 94,007 tonnes of clean rice at an excellent average yield rate of 3.32 tonnes per hectare.
Aush rice farming and its production are increasing as a result of pragmatic steps taken by the government in last nine years in the region contributing to ensuring food security despite adverse impacts of climate change.
The steps include distribution of special incentives among small and marginal farmers, conducting motivational campaigns and providing technical supports to them.
"Farmers are showing more interest in Aush paddy farming as an additional crop during the off-season after Boro rice harvest and before transplantation of Aman rice seedlings to enhance rice production," Hossain said.
Earlier, farmers produced 1.94 lakh tonnes of clean Aush rice from 62,090 hectares of land in 2021 and 1.83 lakh tonnes of clean Aush rice from 59,092 hectares of land in 2020 in the region.
While they produced 1.48 lakh tonnes of clean Aush rice from 47,552 hectares of land in 2019, 1.23 lakh tonnes of clean Aush rice from 40, 618 hectares of land in 2018 and 73,543 tonnes of clean Aush rice from 24,717 hectares in 2017 in the region.
"Besides, farmers produced 65,505 tonnes of Aush rice from 21,751 hectares of land in 2016, 61,676 tonnes from 21,063 hectares of land in 2015, 59,685 tonnes from 19,205 hectares in 2014 and 51,722 tonnes from 17,523 hectares of land in 2013," he added.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Md Obaidur Rahman Mandal said farmers can easily cultivate Aman paddy on the same land after harvesting Aush one by mid-August next to enhance production.
Talking to the news agency, farmers Abdur Rahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed and Fazlul Haque of different villages in Rangpur expressed satisfaction over the present market prices of newly- harvested Aush paddy between Tk 1,050 and 1,100 per mound (40 kg).