RANGPUR, Sept 6, 2022 (BSS)-The farmers of the region so far completed the transplantation of Aman rice seedlings on 99.79 percent of targeted land as the process is nearly completed.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the farmers have transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 6,14,377 hectares of land against the targeted land area of 6,15,685 hectares for cultivation of the crop till Monday.
 
The tender plants of the crop are growing superbly now following recent rainfalls making farmers happy after the recent drought-like situation in the region.
 
“As transplantation of seedlings of late varieties of Aman rice continues, we are expecting to achieve the fixed farming target of the crop this time,” Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Md. Emdad Hossain Sheikh told BSS.
 
The government has fixed a target of producing 18,07,916 tonnes of clean Aman rice (27,11,874 tonnes of paddy) from 6,15,685 hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur in the region this season.
   
The government has taken special measures to ensure use of high quality seeds, smooth supply of fertilizers and fuels, prepare model seedbeds, balanced fertilization and adoption of improved technologies to enhance rice production this season.
    
Additional steps have also been taken like preparation of 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.
 
“Considering the possibility of seasonal floods, we had also taken special measures to prepare more seedbeds so that the farming process of Aman rice was not affected under any circumstances amid adverse impacts of climate change,” he said.
   
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities and farmers put their irrigation pumps into operation for transplantation of Aman rice seedlings and irrigate their crop fields amid less rainfalls or droughts this year.
 
“Field level agriculture officials of the DAE are providing required assistance and latest technologies to the farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman rice in the region this season,” Hossain added.
 
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Md Obaidur Rahman Mandal said transplantation of Aman rice seedlings gained momentum following frequent rainfalls last month.
 
“Although the transplantation process could not get momentum since the beginning of the season due to lack of adequate seasonal rainfalls, farmers mostly used lifted underground water to transplant Aman rice seedlings,” he said.
 
"However, the situation became favourable following adequate rainfalls in recent days and farmers are expected to achieve the fixed farming and production targets of Aman rice this season,” Mandal added.
 
Farmers Mohsin Ali of village Kathihara and Mostafizur Rahman of village Najirerhat under Rangpur Sadar said they have completed transplantation of Aman rice seedlings timely mostly using lifted underground water by irrigation pumps in early August.
 
“The tender Aman rice plants are growing superbly now on our crop fields following frequent rainfalls in recent weeks,” said farmer Manik Mian of village Darshona in Sadar upazila of Rangpur.