Bumper Aus rice production likely in Rangpur region

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RANGPUR, July 03, 2018 (BSS)-A bumper Aus rice production is likely in Rangpur agriculture region where farmers have exceeded their fixed farming target by over 55 percent this season.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said a proper implementation of the government’s various pragmatic steps, including distribution of incentives, inspired the farmers in enhancing Aus rice cultivation.

The government has fixed a target of bringing 26,159 heaters of land under Aus rice cultivation to produce 68,969 tonnes of clean Aus rice for Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts of the region this season.

“The enthusiastic farmers have cultivated Aus rice on 40,618 hectares of land exceeding the fixed farming target by 14,459 hectares or 55.27 percent this time,” said horticulture specialist of the DAE at its regional office Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.

He said the present pro-farmer government distributed special incentives to 8,000 farmers who got 5 kg Aus rice seed, 20 kg urea, 10 kg DAP and 10 kg MoP and Taka 500 for irrigating Aus rice field on one bigha of land each this time.

“Besides, 300 beneficiary farmers got 5 kg Nerico Aus rice seed, 20 kg urea, 10 kg DAP and 10 kg MoP fertilisers, Taka 500 for irrigating Aus rice field and Taka 500 for weed control on one bigha land each,” Islam added.

DAE Deputy Director Md Moniruzzaman said distribution of special incentives, motivational activities and technical assistance inspired the farmers in increasing cultivation of less irrigation water consuming Aus rice crop.

The farmers have already harvested early varieties of Aus rice on 12,541 hectares (30.87 percent of the cultivated land area) producing 38,000 tonnes of clean Aus rice with an average yield rate of 3.03 tonnes per hectare.

“Currently, Aus rice cultivated on 12.20 percent of the total cultivated land area is at the tillering stage, 10.70 percent at panicle initiation stage, 4.47 percent at booting stage, 3.45 percent at flowering stage, 5.24 percent at milking stage, 16.48 percent at dough stage and 16.58 percent at the ripening stage,” he said.

He said cultivation of short duration Aus rice during the off-season between Boro harvest and T-Aman seedling transplantation is regaining popularity to increase rice production reducing pressure on underground water for ensuring the country’s food security.