SYLHET, July 31: Aus farmers across the Sylhet division are expecting a good yield this season and they will start harvesting the produce after three or four weeks.
Aus cultivation is gaining popularity in the greater Sylhet region due to high profit, said Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Sylhet divisional office, Md Altabur Rahman.
Peasants of the region earlier used to cultivate T-Aman and Boro crops. But the scenario has changed now. Aus paddy is also grown on a vast tract of land every season, he added.
DAE provided all necessary support to make the cultivation programme a success, the official further said.
Against the target of 174,824 hectares of land, Aus paddy has been cultivated on 170,077 hectares in all the four districts - Sunamganj, Habiganj, Sylhet and Moulvibazar of the division this season, said Mr Rahman, adding, the recent flood damaged about 6,500 hectares of Aus field.
Of the total standing crops, 55,382 hectares are in Sylhet, 48,185 hectares in Moulvibazar and 46,604 hectares in Habiganj while it is 13,490 hectares in Sunamganj district.
Having a favourable weather as yet in all the districts, the cultivation would be a better one this season, said the official.
The production target has been fixed at 440,800 tonnes of rice.
