Farmers have expressed enthusiasm over larger-scale cultivation of Aush and Aman paddy in Rajshahi district this year, owing to its fair price in local markets and prevailing favourable weather conditions for optimum output.
The sowing season ended on June 30 with farmers achieving a record-high in Aush planting on 50,970 hectares, which accounts for the most Aush paddy cultivated in the last decade, according to the district agriculture department.
For the FY2020-21, the department has set the production target for Aush paddy at 160,920 tons of yield from the initially targeted 50,960 hectares of land. Meanwhile, Aman planting is set to begin after three weeks.
Abdus Sattar, a farmer from Paba upazila, said: “In previous years, desperate farmers with hopes of making a small profit, cultivated paddy with great difficulty, accepting the cost of natural disasters and calamities despite very little profit in paddy cultivation.”
“However, I am optimistic about Aush cultivation this year since I received a fair price for my Boro rice last season which I cultivated on two bighas of land. So, I have decided to cultivate Aush on three bighas,” he said.
Samiul Islam, a farmer of Durgapur upazila, said he has just recently become interested in paddy cultivation as the price of paddy has never been this high. “This year I am cultivating Aush on four bighas because of high paddy prices in the market.”
Mizanur Rahman, a farmer from Ramnagar in Godagari upazila, said he planted more paddy this year than last year. “I have increased Aush cultivation due to the good price of paddy and a high yield. Moreover, due to plenty of rain, there is no issue with irrigation.”
Georges Khan, a farmer in Tanore upazila, said farmers will remain enthusiastic about paddy cultivation if the market price is stable and fair. Due to myriad problems faced in selling paddy to grain warehouses, farmers often get annoyed and think of other crops to cultivate instead of paddy.”
Godagari Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiqul Islam said Aush planting has exceeded the target this year due to the high price of Aush in the market and favourable weather for paddy cultivation. Our agricultural officers are working with farmers in the field. The farmers are playing a significant role alongside the government in ensuring food security for the country during the coronavirus pandemic.”
Zillar Bari, assistant engineer (Godagari zone) of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, said the agriculture ministry has allocated Tk46.98 lakh for free irrigation in Godagari upazila. Around 9,000 hectares will get free irrigation, benefitting about 20,470 farmers in the upazila.
Shamsul Haque, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Rajshahi district, said there has always been a food surplus in the agro-based district and this year will be no exception. “The weather is favourable for paddy cultivation this year with farmers in the high-land regions cultivating Aush with ease, without worrying about irrigation, because of ample rainfall.
The government will continue to provide incentives to farmers to keep them encouraged in the years to come, he said.
