Rangpur: Tender plants of Transplanted Aman rice are growing superbly following recent rainfalls, predicting an excellent production of the crop in the Rangpur Agricultural Region this season. Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) reported that the transplantation of Aman rice seedlings was completed last week, surpassing the fixed farming target by 0.17 percent across all five districts of the region.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, despite inadequate rainfalls during July and August, farmers, with assistance from the DAE and other agriculture-related organizations, completed the transplantation of Aman rice seedlings using irrigated water. Acting Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur agricultural region, Krishibid Md Sirajul Islam, noted that frequent rainfalls during August and September have positively impacted the growth of Aman rice plants.
Farmers utilized irrigation pumps, including deep and shallow tube wells, low lift, and other pumps, for supplementary irrigation during the transplantation period. The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), BADC, and Teesta Barrage Project authorities also contributed to the irrigation efforts, aiming to ensure the success of the Aman rice farming program.
The growing Aman rice plants are at various stages: 37.58 percent in tillering, 38.65 percent in panicle initiation, 18.17 percent in booting, 3.69 percent in flowering, 1.36 percent in milking, 0.36 percent in dough, 0.16 percent in ripening stages, and 0.03 percent already harvested. Farmers are actively nurturing their crops, removing weeds, and applying necessary pesticides across vast tracts of farmland.
DAE officials stated that Aman rice seedlings have been transplanted on 6,21,505 hectares of land, achieving 100.17 percent of the targeted cultivation area for the region this season. Initially, the DAE set a production target of 20,10,505 tonnes of clean Aman rice (equivalent to 30,15,757 tonnes of paddy) from 6,20,430 hectares.
To assist small and marginal farmers, the interim government, through the DAE, distributed high-quality Aman rice seeds and fertilizers as incentives. Additionally, measures were taken to prepare seedbeds for late varieties of Aman rice in highlands and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas to ensure a steady supply of seedlings, regardless of potential floods in August and September.
Field-level agricultural officers have been providing essential support and the latest technology to farmers, ensuring the successful cultivation of Aman rice in the region. Conversations with farmers from Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari, and Lalmonirhat districts reveal optimism about the growth of Aman rice plants.
Ariful Haque Batul, a farmer from Najirdigar village in Rangpur Sadar, expressed satisfaction with the growth of Aman rice on his seven acres of land, attributing it to the frequent rainfall, which reduces the need for supplementary irrigation. He is hopeful for a bumper production of the major cereal crop this season.