RANGPUR, June 17, 2021 (BSS) – The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing over 17.19 lakh tonnes of clean Aman rice (25.79 lakh tonnes of paddy) from 6.12 lakh hectares of land for Rangpur agriculture region.
The DAE officials said farmers are preparing their seedbeds in full swing to begin transplantation of the seedlings on their croplands from next month in all five districts across the region this season.
Despite lessening of cultivable land area, Aman rice production can be increased by 10 percent by ensuring production, proper preservation and use of quality seeds, preparing model seedbeds, balanced fertilisation and adopting improved technologies.
Meanwhile, farmers have prepared Aman rice seedbeds on 6,515 hectares of land against the requirement of preparing the same on 30,455 hectares of land for cultivation of Aman rice crop on 6.12 lakh hectares of land in the region this year.
“Considering the possibility of seasonal floods, we will take special measures to prepare seedbeds, if required, in the region, so that the farming process of Aman rice was not affected,” said Bidhu Bhusan Ray, Additional Director of the DAE, Rangpur region.
Farmers, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities will keep their irrigation pumps ready to operate for Aman rice seedling transplantation in case of less rainfall or droughts, if any, across the region.
“We have directed field level agriculture officials to provide all necessary assistance and latest technologies to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman rice in the region,” Ray said.
In addition to this, steps will be taken to prepare late varieties of Aman rice seedbeds on highlands and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas so that there was no crisis of seedlings for floods, if any during July and August months this season in the region.
“The farmers are now preparing their seedbeds and croplands for transplantation of Aman rice seedlings in all five districts of the region where a favourable weather condition is prevailing for the purpose,” Ray added.
Talking to BSS, farmer Ariful Haque Batul of village Najirdigar in Rangpur Sadar upazila said he has already prepared seedbeds and will begin transplantation of Aman rice seedling soon on his seven acres of land next month.
Similarly, farmers Echhahaq Ali of Sadar upazila, Mofizar Rahman of Taraganj upazila and Ashraful Islam of Badarganj upazila in Rangpur said they have prepared Aman rice seedbeds to begin transplantation of seedlings on their croplands from the next month.