Photo: Collected
Farmers in the Chattogram region are expecting a bumper Aman harvest this season despite below-average and intermittent monsoon rainfall, raising hopes of a good yield across the region.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Chattogram region, Apru Marma told that the overall condition of Aman fields was encouraging and there was a strong possibility of a bumper harvest.
He said although rainfall was lower than usual, farmers managed to irrigate their fields where necessary with support from government departments and agencies. Intermittent rainfall throughout the season also helped the seedlings grow well.
"The soil still contains sufficient moisture, allowing the Aman plants to thrive. The present condition of the fields indicates a bumper harvest, even if there is no further rainfall before harvesting," Apru said.
He added that timely rainfall or one or two rounds of irrigation in late-planted Aman fields on relatively higher land could further improve yields.
District Agriculture Officer Arif Ahmed Chowdhury said the DAE had set a production target of 553,139 tonnes of clean rice, equivalent to 829,780 tonnes of paddy, from 179,780 hectares of land in the region this year.
Despite initial challenges caused by water shortages due to inadequate rainfall, farmers cultivated Aman on 179,780 hectares, exceeding the target by 140 hectares, he said.
Short-duration Aman varieties have been cultivated on more than 113,000 hectares this season. Harvesting of these varieties has already begun and is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.
Alongside expectations of good yields, favourable market prices for newly harvested Aman rice have also brought smiles to farmers in rural areas.
Apru also added that the government was making all-out efforts to ensure successful Aman cultivation, while agricultural officials at the field level were providing farmers with necessary advice and support.
This season, farmers also used organic fertilisers and adopted environment-friendly pest management techniques, including perching and light traps, to control insect infestations and protect their crops.
Apru said he had recently visited Aman fields in several areas and found the overall crop condition satisfactory. He expressed optimism that farmers would achieve a bumper harvest, with harvesting expected to gain momentum from next month.
Vast stretches of ripe, semi-ripe and growing Aman fields across the region have created an attractive rural landscape, he added.
Farmers Nazrul Islam, Jaber Mia, Md. Ismail and Abdur Rahim from different upazilas of Chattogram told BSS that they were expecting good yields from short-duration Aman varieties.
Abu Taher of East Ratanpur village in Patiya upazila said he expected to begin harvesting next month.
"Farmers in our area are expecting yields of 50 to 55 maunds per acre this season," he said.
Source: Online/GFMM
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