Although heavy rain caused extensive damage to seedlings, the farmers in Rajshahi expect higher Aman production this season due to timely rainfall and favourable weather conditions.
Agriculture officials say that the Aman production may exceed the target for providing fertilizer, seed, pesticide and irrigation support on time.
In Rajshahi’s Godagari, Tanore, Paba, Mohanpur, Bagmara, Durgapur and Charghat upazilas, the fields are now filled with golden paddy, and the rural areas are alive with the joy of harvest. Farmers say that as the weather remained favourable and rain came on time, irrigation costs fell, leading to better production than last year. Although some were affected by late-season rain, they believe the losses can be recovered.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), transplanted Aman has been cultivated on 83,550 hectares of land in Rajshahi district this season, with a production target of 317,490 metric tonnes of rice. In the previous financial year, Aman was grown on 84,105 hectares, producing 318,323 metric tonnes.
Farmers report that continuous rain over several days caused waterlogging and minor crop damage in some areas. However, both growers and officials believe that if favourable weather continues, there will be a bumper Aman harvest in Rajshahi this season, which will play a vital role in ensuring the district’s food security.
Mizanur Rahman, a farmer from Debipur village in Durgapur upazila, has cultivated BINA-17 paddy on about two bighas of land this season. He has already begun harvesting and expects to get 20–22 maunds per bigha. If market prices remain satisfactory, he hopes to make a good profit. He says that this year he hardly needed to irrigate his land, which kept his costs low and should increase his profit margin if prices hold.
Lutfar Rahman, a farmer from Ghiapukur village in Godagari upazila, said that he was very worried about water at the beginning of the season, but timely rainfall eased his fears and led to good yields.
Sanawullah, a farmer from Chimna village in Tanore upazila, said that irrigation costs were very high last year, but this season nature has been kind, with less expenditure and better yields. Despite some losses from rain, he remains hopeful of profit if paddy prices are fair.
Farmer Abdur Rahim of Habibpur village in Charghat upazila, said for several years Aman yields had been low for various reasons, but this year the weather has been favourable and pest attacks minimal, resulting in good production.
Nasir Uddin, deputy director of the Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension, said that although there has been some damage due to rain, it will not significantly affect the overall production target. Harvesting has already begun in different upazilas, and if the weather remains favourable, yields will be good.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, 16 November, a women’s paddy-cutting competition was held as part of a Nabanna festival in Chaitanyapur village of Godagari upazila. As soon as the national anthem ended, the competition began. Teams from Farsapara, Kantapasha and Chaitanyapur villages raced each other to cut a fixed amount of paddy, while hundreds of people gathered by the fields to watch.
The festival was organized by Moniruzzaman, who has been introducing new crop varieties in Godagari and organizing the event for seven years to offer farmers some entertainment. Each year, two farmers are honoured for special contributions to agriculture. This year, Bografarmer Suraiya Farhana and Paba farmer Bilkis Begum received the awards.