Rangpur:The early harvest of short-duration Aman rice varieties has brought the traditional 'Nabanno' festival to life, creating jobs and economic opportunities in the Rangpur agricultural region.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, rural families across the region's five districts are celebrating 'Nabanno' by preparing traditional cakes like 'Bhapa Pitha' and 'Puli Pitha'. This festive spirit is accompanied by employment opportunities for farm workers, who are benefiting from the early harvest of Aman rice.
The cultivation of short-duration Aman rice has gained popularity, allowing for an early harvest during a period traditionally marked by low agricultural activity. This shift is helping small and marginal farmers, as well as agricultural laborers, to manage the seasonal job scarcity commonly experienced during the months of 'Ashwin' and 'Kartik', previously associated with 'Monga', a period of poverty-like conditions.
Md Saiful Islam, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for the Rangpur region, noted that the target for Aman rice production was set at 20,05,028 tonnes of clean rice from 6,21,550 hectares. Farmers have surpassed this target, planting on 621,690 hectares. Over 100,000 hectares are dedicated to short-duration rice varieties in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari.
Harvesting has commenced on over 5,500 hectares, with an average yield of 3.15 tonnes of clean rice per hectare. Farmers are reaping short-duration, high-yielding varieties such as BRRIdhan 75 and hybrid types like Tiya and Moya. This process is expected to continue until late November, after which all Aman rice varieties will be harvested.
Post-harvest, farmers are planting early-maturing potatoes, mustard, and vegetables, further enhancing job opportunities for agricultural laborers. Dr. MA Mazid, a recipient of the Independence Award-2018 for food security, highlighted the significance of cultivating short-duration Aman rice and winter crops in addressing seasonal unemployment since 2006.
Farmers in the region, such as Mahbubur Rahman and Ayub Ali, have reported excellent yields from varieties like BINA dhan17 and Dhani Gold. These activities not only fulfill their food requirements but also offer profitable returns from selling paddy and straw, contributing to the local economy.