Rangpur: Despite experiencing a drought-like situation due to a lack of seasonal rainfall, farmers in the Rangpur agricultural region have successfully completed the planting of Aman rice seedlings on 96 percent of the targeted land.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md Shirajul Islam, the Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for the Rangpur region, expressed confidence that the target for Aman rice farming would be achieved within the next few weeks. Farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 5,96,688 hectares of land out of the targeted 6,21,550 hectares.
The DAE has set a production target of 20,05,028 tonnes of clean Aman rice from the total targeted area across the five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari. In the previous season, farmers in the region produced 20,00,614 tonnes of clean Aman rice from 6,16,299 hectares.
Farmers have prepared seedbeds on 34,623 hectares of land, exceeding the required 30,401 hectares, to ensure that there are no shortages of seedlings due to potential floods. The DAE has distributed high-quality seeds and fertilisers to small and marginal farmers to support the successful cultivation of Aman rice.
Field-level agricultural officers are actively providing support and the latest technology to farmers. Many farmers, such as Isahaque Ali from Rangpur Sadar Upazila, reported that the current power supply is sufficient to operate shallow tube wells for irrigation, addressing previous challenges caused by load-shedding.
Farmers across various upazilas, including Taraganj, Gangachara, Mithapukur, Kawnia, and Pirgachha, have noted that the transplantation process is nearly complete, with the young plants developing well. Despite the recent dry spell, farmers like Noor Muhammad, Hasan Ali, and others are using groundwater for irrigation to ensure the growth of their crops.
The commitment and resilience of the farming community in the Rangpur region, along with the support from the DAE, are paving the way for a promising Aman rice season, ensuring food security and livelihoods for the local population.