RANGPUR, Dec 15, 2021 (BSS) - Farmers have already exceeded the fixed
production target of Aman rice as its harvest is nearing completion despite
some damages caused to the crop by recent floods in Rangpur agriculture
region.

     Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers
have already completed Aman rice harvest on 6,02,562 hectares of land out of
6,09,723 hectares remaining after damages caused by recent floods in the
region.

     "Farmers have already produced 17,54,102 tonnes of clean Aman rice
(26,31,153 tonnes of paddy) exceeding the production target of 17,19,231
tonnes of clean rice by 34,871 tonnes," Additional Director of the DAE's
Rangpur region Md. Tauhidul Ikbal told BSS today.

     Earlier, the DAE had fixed a target of producing 17,19,231 tonnes of
clean Aman rice (25,78,846 tonnes of paddy) from 6,12,451 hectares of land
for the region this season.

     "Before the recent floods, farmers transplanted Aman rice seedlings on
6,14,295 hectares of land exceeding the fixed target by 1,844 hectares of
land this season in the region.

     "However, the recent deluge damaged standing Aman rice crop on 4,572
hectares of land," he said, adding that Aman rice plants grew superbly on the
rest of 6,09,723 hectares of land amid excellent climatic conditions in the
region.

     Of them, farmers had cultivated short duration varieties of Aman rice on
63,197 hectares of land which is 10.36 percent against the total cultivated
land area of 6,09,723 hectares in the region.

     Beginning from early October, farmers have already completed harvest of
short duration Aman rice during the seasonal lean period of 'Aswin' and
'Kartik' months and are cultivating winter crops on the land.

     "Farmers are expected to complete harvest of Aman rice on the remaining
7,160 hectares of land by the next week in the region," he said.

     Farmers are currently getting an average yield rate of 2.91 tonnes of
clean Aman rice per hectare of land on their way to achieve an all-time
bumper production of the crop this season in the region.

     "After harvesting Aman rice, farmers are sowing seeds of early variety
potato, winter vegetables and other Rabi crops on the same land in full swing
creating huge jobs for farm-laborers," Ikbal added.

     Talking to BSS, farmers Lokman Hossain, Mohidul Islam, Amenur Rahman and
Sohel Rana of Rangpur Sadar upazila said that they have got excellent yield
rates of Aman rice after completing harvest of the crop this season.

     Farmer Ariful Haque of village Najirdigar in Rangpur Sadar said he has
completed harvest of his cultivated Aman rice on seven acres of land and got
over 50 mounds yield of the crop in terms of paddy per acre of land this
season.

     "The current market price of Aman paddy is varying between Taka 1,000
and Taka 1,100 per mound (every 40 kg)," Ariful said, adding that he would be
able to sell his paddy to the government purchasing centers to earn more
profits.