Farmers have completed transplantation of Aman paddy seedlings on 76 per cent of the targeted land area as the process continues smoothly amid frequent rainfalls in Rangpur agriculture region.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 4,71,521 hectares of land, 76 per cent of the targeted land area for cultivation of the crop, till Thursday.
"We are expecting to achieve the fixed farming target of Aman rice as transplantation of seedling continues following frequent rainfalls in recent days," said Acting Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Sirajul Islam.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 20,10,505 tonnes of clean Aman rice (30,15,757 tonnes in terms of paddy) from 6,20,430 hectares of land for all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
The target includes production of 16,85,683 tonnes of high yielding varieties of Aman rice from 5,24,070 hectares, 3,14,162 tonnes of hybrid varieties from 85,450 hectares and 20,660 tonnes of local varieties of Aman rice from 10,910 hectares of land.
"Farmers have already prepared Aman rice seedbeds in 34,393 hectares of land against the requirement of preparing the same on 30,349 hectares for cultivation of the crop on the targeted 6,20,430 hectares of land," Islam said.
Meanwhile, the interim government through the DAE distributed high-quality Aman rice seeds and fertilisers among the small and marginal farmers as incentives to assist them in cultivating the crop across the region.
In addition, steps have been taken to prepare the seedbeds for late varieties of Aman rice in highlands and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas so that there was no shortage of seedlings due to floods in August, if any.
"The field-level agricultural officers have been directed to provide all necessary support and latest technology to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman rice in this region," Islam added.
Farmers of different villages in Rangpur said that transplantation of Aman rice seedling has now got momentum following frequent seasonal rainfall in recent days at most places.
Earlier, farmers used lifted underground water to transplant Aman rice seedlings on their lands almost since the beginning of the season due to lack of adequate seasonal rainfall.
"However, farmers are expected to achieve the fixed farming target of Aman rice this season," said farmer Isahaque Ali of Kathihara village in Rangpur Sadar upazila.
Farmers Abdur Rouf, Jamal Uddin, Mohsin Ali, Abdul Khaleque, Ruhul Amin, Mohir Ali and Abdur Rahman of different villages here said that they already completed transplantation of Aman seedlings on their lands.
"Tender Aman rice plants are growing superbly in crop fields following frequent rainfalls in recent days," said farmer Ariful Haque Batul of Najirdigar village in Rangpur Sadar upazila.
