ZCZC
BSS-10
AMAN RICE-RANGPUR (with picture)
Aman rice production target may exceed in Rangpur region
RANGPUR, Dec 03, 2018 (BSS) – The Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) are expecting that the fixed production target of Transplanted Aman (T-
Aman) rice may exceed in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
“The farmers have already harvested T-Aman rice on 4.34 lakh hectares of
land, around 72 percent of total cultivated land area of 6.03 lakh hectares
of land,” Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office Khondker
Md Mesbahul Islam told BSS today.
The farmers have so far produced 13.13 lakh tonnes of clean T-Aman rice
with an average yield rate of 3.03 tonnes of clean rice (4.545 tonnes of
paddy) per hectare of land in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture
region.
“The total T-Aman rice output might be over 18 lakh tonnes, higher by
over 1.60 lakh tonnes against the fixed production target of 16.39 lakh
tonnes of clean rice if the present yield rate continues till completion of
harvest this season,” Islam said.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing over 16.39 lakh tonnes of clean
T-Aman rice (24.58 lakh tonnes of paddy) from 5.94 lakh hectares of land with
a targeted average yield rate of 2.76 tonnes of clean rice per hectare for
this season.
However, the farmers have finally cultivated T-Aman rice on over 6.03
lakh hectares of land exceeding the fixed farming target on 5.94 lakh
hectares by 9,292 hectares of land in the region.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said
the T-Aman rice output might exceed the fixed production target as the
farmers got superb yield rate after completing harvest of the crop on 72
percent of the cultivated land area.
“The farmers are harvesting T-Aman rice in full swing on way to achieve
its super bumper output in all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha,
Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in the region this season,” Moniruzzaman
added.
Meanwhile, the farmers have already started sowing seed of different
varieties of Rabi crops like variety potato, winter vegetables, wheat, maize,
pulse and other crops on the same land after harvesting their cultivated T-
Aman rice in the region.
Harvesting of T-Aman rice as well as cultivation of subsequent Rabi
crops on the same land has created huge jobs for thousands of the farm-
labourers, including females, in all five districts of the region now.
Talking to BSS, farmers Abdul Halim, Mokhlesur Rahman and Manik Mian of
village Najirdigar under Sadar upazila here said they are now busy to
cultivate Rabi crops after harvesting their T-Aman rice on the same land.
Similarly, farmers Mofizar Rahman of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur, Sona
Mian and Faruk Hossain of Syedpur upazila in Nilphamari and Aminur Rahman of
Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram said they got excellent yield rate of their just
harvested T-Aman rice.
The newly harvested T-Aman paddy is being sold at rates between Taka 650
and 700 per mound in the local markets, the farmers and market sources said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Food has started official procedures like
signing of agreements with the rice mill owners from December 1 last to begin
procurement of T-Aman rice at the rate of Taka 36 per kilogram.
“We are expecting to begin procurement of T-Aman rice within few days at
the field levels in Rangpur division,” said Rangpur Regional Controller of
Food Raihanul Kabir.
BSS/spl/MI/SA/ 1255 HRS