Cultivation of Aush paddy has increased this season as the government provided agricultural incentives in Chuadanga. The government has provided the incentives at the farmer level to bring self-sufficiency in food and increase rice cultivation in the district.
About 40,000 farmers have received the government incentives in four upazilas of Chuadanga district.
According to the information provided by Chuadanga Department of Agricultural Extension, Aush paddy was cultivated on 43,017 hectares of land in the last year in Chuadanga district.
The goal was set to cultivate Aush paddy on 46,700 hectares of land this season. However, it was cultivated on 44,679 hectares of land. Among them, Aush paddy was cultivated in 16,120 hectares of land in Chaudanga sadar upazila, in 9,527 hectares of land in Alamdanga upazila, in 11,520 hectares of land in Damurhuda upazila and in 7,512 hectares of land in Jibannagar upazila. There are 94, 220 hectares of arable land in Chuadanga district. Among them, Aush paddy was cultivated in 47 percent of arable land this season. As such, Aush paddy cultivation was achieved in 95 percent of the target area. Chaudanga district has made a record in Aush paddy cultivation this year as well.
According to sources from Chuadanga Department of Agricultural Extension, Chuadanga district is in second place in thw whole country Aush paddy cultivation and in the first place in Jashore district in Aush paddy production.
Sources from Chuadanga Department of Agricultural Extension said a total of 27 varieties of Hybrid and Ufshi variety of Aush paddy were cultivated in four upazilas of Chuadanga district. Among the Hybrid variety, ACI-1, ACI-2, Dhani Gold, Rajkumari, Chamak, Nabin, Ispahani, Agomoni, Krishan, Madhumati, Rod Miniket, Syngenta-1205 varieties and among the Ufshi variety BRRI DHAN-48, BRRI DHAN-55, BRRI DHAN-58, BRRI DHAN-98, Khato Babu, BINA-17, BINA-21 were cultivated by the farmers in Chuadanga district. The farmers said Khato Babu and BRRI DHAN-48 varieties among Ufshi variety were cultivated most by the farmers. Among the Hybrid variety, farmers cultivated ACI-2, Ispahani and Syngenta 1205 varieties the most.
Sources from Chuadanga Department of Agricultural Extension also said that agricultural incentives of 5 kg of paddy seeds per bigha, 10 kg of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) fertilizer and 10 kg of MOP (Muriate of Potassium) fertilizer to the farmers who were interested in cultivating Aush paddy of Ufshi variety from the Department of Agricultural Extension in order to increase the yield.
Mintu Joardar, a farmer from Hatikata village of Chuadanga sadar upazila, said he cultivated Aush paddy in 5 bighas of land this season. Among the 5 bighas, he cultivated BRRI DHAN-48 in 3 bighas of land and Rod Miniket of Indian variety in 2 bighas of land. He said it takes 90 to 110 days to harvest BRRI DHAN-48 and it takes 10 days more to harvest Rod Miniket than the BRRI DHAN-48. He also said that Rod Miniket variety of paddy produces good yield. The demand and market rates of this variety are high and farmers are being interested in cultivating Rodminiket paddy because of its good yield.
He also added that the yield of Rod Miniket variety of paddy was 30 to 32 maunds per bighain the Boro season. The yield will be 20 to 22 maunds per bigha in this season as well. He said BRRI DHAN-48 variety is being sold at Tk 1,200 per maund whereas Rod Miniket variety is selling at Tk 1,400 per maund in the market.
Agricultural Officer of Jibannagar upazila Md. Alamgir Hossain said the farmers will start cultivating Rod Miniket variety of paddy at individual level in the Boro season. However, some farmers are cultivating it the Aush season as well. If the yield is good, cultivation of this variety of paddy will increase in the Boro and Aush season too from next.
Deputy Director of Chuadanga Department of Agricultural Extension Bevash Chandra Saha said Chuadanga district always has a very favorable climate for cultivation. The farmers don’t face any problem regarding the climate. Farmers do not have to face difficulties with irrigation system either. Moreover, the Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officers always keep contact with the farmers regarding various matters of farming. They can quickly solve any problem due to that.
He said the target was set to cultivate Aush paddy in 46,700 hectares of land. Among them, it was cultivated in 44,679 hectares of lands. Aush pady was cultivated in 95 percent of the target area. It was cultivated int 47,017 hectares of land last year. Chuadanga is in the second place in the whole country in paddy cultivation and in the first place in Jashore in paddy production. He said Aush is mainly a rainfed crop. Rainfall was low in the district earlier. However, the target was achieved as there was plenty of rainfall later. The Department of Agricultural Extension is looking to increase the production of rice, along with pest control in the crop fields.
