Aromatic rice cultivators of Rangpur district are in joyous mood as they have been witnessing a congenial weather condition this year. They are optimistic about attaining a plentiful yield of the produce this season.
During a recent visit to several areas of the district, this correspondent found aromatic rice plants under the region grown well signaling an excellent yield of the crop this year. Harvesting of the paddy has already begun in some areas of the region.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources aromatic rice has been cultivated on around 3,750 hectares of land during this season in eight upazilas under the district.
Farmers have cultivated different varieties of aromatic rice across the region this year, of which BRRI- dhan34, Kalijira, Kataribhog and Uknimadhu varieties are much popular among the cultivators. This year BRRI Dhan 34 variety of the rice has been cultivated in plenty across the district and the growers are achieving good yield of the crop, sources also said.
Basir Mia, a farmer of Hamidpur village at Mithapukur Upazila told The Financial Express that he cultivated the Uknimadhu variety of aromatic rice on two bighas of land during this season and the condition of its growth is well. Smooth supply of water and agri-inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides has boosted its cultivation, he also said.
Rubel, another farmer of village Nabdiganj at Pirgachha upazila in Rangpur said he cultivated BRRI Dhan 34 on one bigha of land this year and is expecting a bumper production of the crop, if the weather remains conducive. Last year he also got good yield as well as satisfactory price of the crop, he further said.
DAE sources said the increasing demand with lucrative price of aromatic rice has been encouraging the farmers to expand its farming in recent years. Medium low-land is suitable for the cultivation of aromatic rice.
The farmers are showing more interest in farming of aromatic rice to earn more profits, sources added.
Meanwhile, BSS adds: The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a production target of over 3.22 million tonnes of clean Boro rice from 0.78 million hectares for Rangpur division during the current Rabi season.
Talking to the news agency on Thursday, Horticulture Specialist of the DAE regional office Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said the farmers are now preparing Boro seedbed to start transplantation of the major cereal crop from third week of the next month.
However, transplantation of Boro seedling will begin in the low-lying lands, beels, haors, flood-prone and riverine areas from first week of December to complete harvest of the crop before beginning of the next rainy season.
He said 2.14 million tonnes of clean Boro rice will be produced from 0.51 million hectares of land in five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat under Rangpur agriculture region in the division under the programme,.
Besides, over 1.07 million tonnes of clean Boro rice will be produced from 0.26 million hectares of land in three districts of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh under Dinajpur agriculture region in the division this season.
"The farmers will produce 0.91 million tonnes of hybrid variety Boro rice from 0.19 million hectares of land, 2.31 million tonnes of high yielding variety rice from 0.58 million hectares and 3,599 tonnes of local variety Boro rice from 1,851 hectares of land in the division," Mesbahul Islam added.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office here Md Moniruzzaman said the government has taken ample steps to ensure smooth supply of fertilisers, electricity and delivering technologies for making the Boro farming programme successful.
"The farmers will largely adopt the conservation agriculture technologies like Alternate Drying and Wetting (AWD) irrigation method this time in Boro rice cultivation to reduce lifting of ground water, save electricity and improve environment," he said.
Rangpur Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md Shah Alam said efforts are on to popularise conservation agriculture technologies among the farmers this time in farming
Boro rice to increase rice production saving farming costs and resources.
"The field level officials and experts of the DAE and other agriculture-related organisations and institutions are extending necessary assistance to the farmers to make the Boro farming programme a success this season," Mr Alam added.
