RANGPUR, Sept 1, 2020 (BSS) – The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is expecting to achieve the fixed target of Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) rice cultivation in the flood-hit Rangpur agriculture region this season.
Talking to BSS today, Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Muhammad Ali said the government has taken massive programmes to assist flood-hit farmers in recouping crop losses caused by the recent floods in the region.
Under the programmes, the DAE continues distributing specially prepared Aman rice seedlings among 15,600 flood-hit farmers free of cost for re-transplanting those on 15,600 bigha of affected cropland with one bigha each in all five districts of the region.
“The enthusiastic farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings by Monday on 5,87,000 hectares of land which is 97 per cent against the fixed farming target of the crop for the region,” Ali said.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 16,97,795 tonnes of clean Aman rice (25,46,693 tonnes of paddy) from 6,05,140 hectares of land for Rangpur agriculture region this season.
“Against a requirement of preparing Aman rice seedbeds on 30,391 hectares of land to produce seedlings for transplantation on 6,05,140 hectares, farmers have prepared the same on 34,427 hectares, higher by 4,036 hectares than required,” he said.
However, the recent floods have damaged Aman rice seedbeds on 1,196 hectares of land causing losses to seedlings worth Taka 15.95 crore affecting 38,705 farmers in the region.
Besides, the floods have damaged transplanted T-Aman rice crop on 111 hectares of land causing production losses of 320 tonnes of rice worth Taka 1.16 crore and affecting 1,222 farmers.
The government through the DAE and other agriculture-related organisations has taken massive post-flood agri-rehabilitation programmes to assist flood-affected farmers in attaining the fixed target for Aman rice farming in the region.
“The DAE has prepared community Aman rice seedbeds on 221 acres of land at union and ward levels in flood-hit areas. The prepared seedlings are being distributed among 14,732 flood-hit farmers of the region now,” Ali said.
Besides, 500 floating Aman rice seedbeds have been prepared in flood-hit areas and the prepared seedlings are being distributed among 500 flood-affected farmers.
“In addition to this, the DAE continues distributing late variety Aman rice seedlings after preparing those on 9,568 floating trays among 368 flood-affected farmers with 26 trays to each of the farmers of the region,” Ali said.
Besides, late variety Aman rice seeds have been distributed free of cost among flood-hit farmers who have already broadcasted those on their affected croplands.
At the same time, many flood-hit farmers are cultivating late ‘Ganjia’ varieties of Aman rice using seeds from their own stocks in affected areas after recession of floodwaters.
The farmers are expected to complete re-transplantation of T-Aman rice seedlings and broadcast Aman rice seeds on their submerged croplands by the middle of the current month.
“Director General of the DAE Agriculturist Dr. Md. Abdul Muyeed visited flood-hit areas, distributed specially prepared Aman rice seedlings among farmers and directed field level officials to enhance food production earlier this week,” Ali said.
Ali hoped that farmers would finally exceed the fixed farming target of Aman rice in Rangpur agriculture region despite damages caused by recent floods to the crop this season.