RANGPUR, July 10, 2018 (BSS) – The Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) has fixed a target of producing 16.39 lakh tonnes of Transplanted Aman
(T-Aman) rice from 5.94 lakh hectares of land this season in Rangpur
agriculture region.
Officials of the DAE said the farmers already started transplantation of
T-Aman rice seedling as the process would get full momentum by this month in
five districts.
The DAE, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture
Development Corporation (BADC) and other organisations have taken
comprehensive steps to make the T-Aman rice farming programme successful.
“As per the fixed farming target, the farmers will produce 16.39 lakh
tonnes of clean T-Aman rice by bringing 5.94 lakh hectares of land under its
cultivation this season in the region,” said Horticulture Specialist of the
DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.
Of them, 1.30 lakh tonnes of hybrid variety T-Aman rice would be produced
from 37,662 hectares of land, 14.64-lakh tonnes high yielding variety rice
from 5.26 lakh hectares and 44,576 tonnes of local variety Aman rice form
29,717 hectares of land this time.
Meanwhile, the farmers have already prepared T-Aman seedling on 32,854
hectares of land against the requirement of preparing the same on 29,828
hectares for cultivation of T-Aman rice in 5.94 lakh hectares of land.
“The farmers have so far prepared T-Aman seedling on additional 3,026
hectares of land to meet any emergency need for re-transplantation if damage
occur due to flood this season,” Islam said.
Additional Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md
Moniruzzaman said the farmers already transplanted T-Aman rice seedling on
2,054 hectares of land by Monday.
“The prevailing weather remains favourable for transplantation of T-Aman
rice seedling following frequent rains in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat,
Kurigram and Nilphamari districts of the region,” he said.
The farmers have kept shallow tube wells and the Barind Multipurpose
Development Authorities and BADC their deep tube wells ready to operate for
completing T-Aman seedling transplantation timely in case of less rainfall.
Talking to BSS, farmers Esahaq Ali of Kathihara village and Manik Mian of
Darshona village here said they are not facing any problem in transplanting
T-Aman rice seedling amid frequent rainfalls.
Meanwhile, Director (Field Service Wing) of the DAE Dr Md Abdul Muyeed at
a meeting held here on Friday directed field level agriculture officials to
take early steps for facing any natural calamity to ensure successful
cultivation of T-Aman rice.
He also directed to prepare late variety Aman rice seedbeds on highlands
and floating seedbeds in low-lying flood-prone areas.