Farmers in the Rangpur agricultural region have commenced transplanting Aman rice seedlings, driven by consistent monsoon rains, favorable weather, and profitable returns from the recent Boro harvest. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) anticipates that the cultivation drive will reach full momentum by the end of this month. The government, through the DAE, has set a target of producing 20,05,028 tonnes of clean Aman rice (30,07,542 tonnes in terms of paddy) from 6,21,550 hectares of land across five districts: Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari.
Cultivation Targets and Varieties
The target includes producing 16,70,070 tonnes of high-yielding variety (HYV) Aman rice from 5,24,520 hectares, 3,14,221 tonnes of hybrid Aman rice from 86,020 hectares, and 20,737 tonnes of local Aman rice from 11,010 hectares. Last season, farmers produced 20,00,614 tonnes of clean Aman rice in the region, compared to 18,88,538 tonnes from 6,16,299 hectares the previous season.
Preparations and Support Measures
As of Sunday, farmers had prepared seedbeds on 30,959 hectares of land against the required 30,401 hectares for the targeted cultivation. Enthusiastic farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 1,790 hectares of land till Sunday, according to Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Shirajul Islam. He said the transplantation programme would gain full momentum by the end of this month across the region.
Government Initiatives and Farmer Support
Despite shrinking cultivable land and the adverse impacts of climate change, the government has taken special measures to expand the cultivation of HYV and hybrid Aman varieties. These measures include ensuring balanced fertiliser use and adopting modern technologies to boost rice production. The DAE is distributing quality Aman seeds and fertilisers free of cost among small and marginal farmers to support cultivation and increase production.
Irrigation and Seedling Preparation
Authorities have taken measures to raise seedlings of late-yielding Aman varieties in permanent seedbeds in highland areas and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas to prevent any shortage of seedlings during floods. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), and farmers will keep irrigation pumps ready to facilitate timely transplantation if rainfall remains inadequate or drought-like conditions develop.
Farmer Engagement and Field Support
Field-level officials of the DAE and other agriculture-related institutions are providing farmers with necessary support, training, and modern technologies to make the intensive Aman cultivation programme successful. Farmers like Ishaq Ali of Kathihara village in Rangpur Sadar upazila and Mofizar Rahman of Dolapara village in Taraganj upazila are preparing their lands and will begin transplanting Aman seedlings within the next couple of days. Meanwhile, farmers Anwar Hossain, Nur Alam, and Azizur Rahman of Mohipur village in Gangachara upazila are already transplanting Aman seedlings in their fields amid the ongoing monsoon rains.
