The farmers in Jhenaidah were impressed when they were receiving almost optimum prices of their main cereal crop paddy during current harvesting period of Transplanted Aman paddy.
Sadhan Mandal, 43, a farmer of village Anandanager under upazila said, he had transplanted Aman paddy of paddy on his three bihgas of land in the current season. He had harvested about 67 maunds of the paddy from his plots.
Sadhan Mandal, said, he was worried considering the price of the same paddy in last season as he was compelled to sale the same at Taka 625 to 650 each maund.
Farmer Abdus Salam at Sailkupa weekly market on Tuesday afternoon said, he had sold the transplanted Aman paddy for Taka 745 each maund in the market. The price for each maund should be ensured at least Taka 850, he said.
Department of agriculture extension in Jhenaidah office sources said, the farmers in the district had brought a total of 93,415 hectares of land under the transplanting Aman paddy in the season. The target of coverage of land for the T Aman was 84,308 hectares in the season, sources said.
Deputy Director of the DAE in Jhenaidah agriculturist Joynul Abedin when contacted for his comment said, the soil of Jhenaidah and surrounding districts was most suitable for Transplanted Aman and other varieties of paddy as the climate was most favourite in the season.
The deputy director said, the farmers of the district were almost aware on crop production issues as the field level officials of the DAE were engaged in motivating the farmers, as well as providing training on crop management. It has been helping aware the farmers to boost production.
The DAE official also said, the production might be increased more if the soil fertility could be enhanced.
Joynul Abedin blamed the least presence of the organic matter in soil as the farming land requires at least five per cent organic matter in soil, while the presence of the organic substances in the soil of the south-western districts was about one per cent. Further, the farmers were not enough aware about insufficient milk formation in the paddy grains.