The farmers in Jhenaidah had regained their confidence and started cultivating and transplanting Aman (TAman) this year because the reduced price of dye ammonium phosphate (DAP) for the golden paddy and it’s straw have encouraged them towards a better socio-economic base once again.
Most of the farmers in the district and surrounding areas had overturned their faces due to least price of the most important cereal crop paddy. It was a direct threat to the production of the main food grains, especially safer food production in the country. But the scenario was changed within a year when the government had re-fixed the DAP prices to ensure adequate and smooth supply of one of the most important chemical fertilizers used by the farmers rampantly.
Each and every farmer in the district is very much busy to take care of their TAman plots including weeding, controlling of pests and making the plants stronger for a better production in the current season.
The farmers, who had overturned their faces from paddy farming, are returning back to the present benefiting paddy farming, the farmers said with confidence.
Farmer Mafizur Rahman, 58, of Brahmapur village in Shailkupa upazila while purchasing Batir 95SP, a renowned pesticides for controlling Mazra and some other harmful pests marketed by Intefa. The farmer was also purchasing some weedicides, said the farmers like him are very busy to make the TAman plots free from any type of pest and weeds that affects the smooth growth of the grains.
Manwar Hossain, 45, of Chhotomaukuri village in same upazila said they are busy to combat the pests as the plants are going smoothly with the suitable climate in the season. All the farmers are active in the T Aman plots for a better production when the government had re-fixed the main chemical fertilizer DAPS last year.
According to the office of the deputy director of the department of agriculture extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah, they had taken the target to produce 306,081 tons of rice on 104,125 hectares of land in last season. The farmers of the district had produced a total of 352,515 tons of T Aman rice on 104,125 hectares of land in last season.
Upazila wise breakup of the target was 25,380 hectares of land in Jhenaidah Sadar, 18,550 hectares in Kaliganj, 6,120 hectares in Kotchandpur, 18,140 hectares in Moheshpur, 24,825 hectares in Shailkupa and remaining 11,050 hectares in Harinakundu upazila.
Deputy Director (DD) of DAE in Jhenaidah Kripangshu Shekhar Biswas, when contacted said the farmers of his area are expanding their T Aman cultivation land having good prices in last couple of months. Now they are busy round the clock to caring the plots.
Further, the increasing price of paddy straw meant for using as fodder was a lucrative matter for the farmers. The re-fixed DAP price has been also encouraging farmers in Jhenaidah, Kripangshu said.