Dateline: Netrokona: Farmers in Netrokona district are currently engaged in the busy yet rewarding task of harvesting their Aman paddy. The farmers express satisfaction with this year’s yields and the favorable market prices for paddy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Aman paddy was cultivated on a total of 135,840 hectares of land this year. Although the district’s three haor-covered upazilas-Madan, Mohanganj, and Khaliajuri-remain submerged, the other seven upazilas have significantly contributed to the cultivation. While no natural disasters occurred, the crop did suffer some damage due to viruses and insects. Nevertheless, the cost of cultivating Aman paddy was kept low, primarily due to the use of rainwater for irrigation.
During visits to Durgapur and Kalmakanda upazilas, it was evident that farmers are diligently harvesting Aman paddy from the foothills. They are also preparing to celebrate the Nabanna festival in their homes. The harvest of Ropa Aman and Boro infuses a festive atmosphere into farmers’ households, as they engage in various activities such as boiling, sun-drying, and storing the new rice.
Rehana Parveen, a farmer from Uluati village, shared that the work continues after harvesting the golden rice, including drying, threshing, boiling, and storing it. ‘We all do these tasks together with joy, but it is certainly hard work,’ she added. She noted that the arrival of new rice heralds a time of joy, sparking the preparation of traditional foods like pitha, puli, and payesh in every household.
Amirul Islam, a farmer from Kalikapur village, reported a successful harvest, having cultivated Aman on 20 kathas of land, yielding 4 mounds of paddy per katha. Similarly, Nurul Islam from the same village cultivated Aman on 32 kathas, benefiting from the absence of irrigation costs and expecting a profit beyond cultivation expenses.
Rice traders, optimistic about this year’s harvest and market conditions, are actively collecting rice from marginal farmers, processing it, and distributing it across various districts. Saiful Islam, a rice trader, expressed hope that farmers would secure good prices this year, with raw paddy prices ranging between 1,000 and 1,100 taka per maund. He anticipates a price increase once the paddy is dried.
Despite the favorable market, farmers face a severe shortage of paddy harvesters, as many workers migrate to cities such as Dhaka for employment. Consequently, farmers are increasingly reliant on hiring harvester machine owners to meet their labor needs.
Md. Amirul Islam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, informed BSS that 23,093 hectares, representing 16 percent of the total area, have been harvested in the haor-surrounded district of Netrokona.