Karnai, a remote village in Chehelgazi union of Dinajpur Sadar upazila, once known for its barren and sandy soil, today sheaves of golden paddy are swaying in the wind here.
By cultivating BRRI dhan-98 variety of Aush rice on a cooperative basis, the farmers of this village are not only changing their own fate, but also contributing to the country's economy.
They have achieved a bumper yield in just 110 days. The yield per acre has been 85 to 90 maunds. Local farmer Rashid Islam said that he got 85 maund paddy from 85 decimal land, which he will be able to sell to cover the expenses of the potato season.
According to farmers, cooperative rice farming provides hope to them by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving livelihoods through collective resource pooling, shared knowledge, and access to advanced technologies and markets.
The price of paddy is also quite good. Per maund rice is sold at Tk 1.100 to Tk 1,200. Not only paddy, but straw has also become a source of additional income for farmers during the cow fodder crisis. 100 bales of straw are being sold for 700 to 800 taka.
Farmer Azim Uddin said that harvesting the crop at this time is a blessing from God for them, because it brings money at their hands.
Farmers said that due to cooperative farming, production costs have decreased and insect infestation has also decreased. As a result, not only has the yield increased, but also mutual cooperation among farmers has increased. The farmers also said that due to this success, they are planning to cultivate the same variety of rice next year as well.
Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Masum Tushar said that based on the government's directive that not even an inch of land should remain uncultivated, farmers have been encouraged to cultivate Aush paddy by providing hands-on training. As a result, farmers are now getting yields in a short time and are becoming financially benefited.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Arifur Rahman Arif said, "Earlier, Aman paddy was not grown much in the land of this region. But now, with the start of Aush paddy cultivation at the initiative of the government, it is possible to produce three crops on the same land. With this, farmers are getting double profit by selling rice and straw."
This year, Aush paddy has been cultivated on 670 hectares of land in Dinajpur Upazila, with a market value of about Tk 2.2 billion. Agricultural experts say that this success in Karnai village is expected to interest farmers in other regions in cultivating Aush paddy, which will play an important role in increasing the country's food production.
