Fazlul Khan, a farmer of Palashpur village under Madaripur sadar upazila, is jubilant as he witnessed a bumper yield of Bina-7 Aman paddy after cultivating 63 decimals of land this year.
Fazlul opted for Bina-7 Aman instead of local variety with a hope of superb production and he has already harvested his paddy, one month before of other farmers of the locality, who opted for the local variety of Aman.
He said, “Other farmers are now feeling sorry for not choosing Bina-7 as they have found my better crops in less time.”
Anayet Hossian, another farmer of the locality, said, “I will cultivate BINA-7 on my land from the next year as I see it brings better crops.”
Earlier, Hossain was planning to start cultivation of other crops instead of paddy as he used to get less price than production cost.
Bochiruddin of Gopalpur union under Kalkini upazila who also cultivated Bina-7 said he would cultivate it again in next year. “We would get more profit if we choose Bina-7 instead of local variety of Aman.”
Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension Golam Mostofa told the Dhaka Tribune that cultivation of Bina-7 has seen success in the southern areas of the country for the first time, although its cultivation was introduced in the belt few years back.
“Farmers usually get 6 to 6.5 tonnes of crops from per hector of land within 90-110 days. Three crops can be cultivated in two croplands and four crops can be cultivated in three croplands through cultivating this variety,” said Mostofa.
It has increased the interest of farmers to cultivate paddy along with other crops, said hoping that it would bring changes in agricultural sector.
Farmers can be benefitted through cultivating vegetables after harvesting crops. Short term vegetables can be planted this time before cultivating winter crops, he added.
DAE sources said Bina-7 rice was cultivated on 350 hectares of land in the district this year which was 55 hectares in the last year. Madaripur Agricultural Division gained success last year in its experimental cultivation of ina-7.
The DAE sources said 39,444 tonnes of rice was produced on 28,985 hectares of land last year. Getting less price the affected farmers of the locality cultivated in 26,509 hectares land resulting decrease of the targeted production to 35,223 tonnes.
However, cultivation of Aman paddy has decreased by almost 2,500 hectares of land this year as the local farmers got less price last year. The Madaripur Agricultural Division hopes that the farmers of the Southern area of the country would get better crops through BINA-7 and will start cultivating Aman paddy in large extent.
