Aman growers are all smiles as yield good, prices fair

Patuakhali, Barguna, Jessore, Jhenidah, Magura, Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur districts see good yield of Aman paddy this season, much to the delight of growers as the market prices of the major food crop remain satisfactory.

However, farmers of Gaibandha's Sadullapur upazila, an area known for surplus production of Aman, are disappointed due to its production fall this season, mostly due to floods and subsequent attacks by pests and worms.

Our Patuakhali Correspondent reports: Per maund of Aman paddy is selling at Tk 800 to Tk 900 in local markets while the prices were Tk 500 to Tk 600 last year. 

In Patuakhali, Aman was cultivated on 2,02,613 hectares of land while the crop covered 1,01,032 hectares in Barguna district this season.

Alamgir Hossain Howlader, a farmer of Tarikata village under Amtali upazila in Barguna said he has harvested around 13 maunds of Aman paddy from one bigha of land.

“I am very happy as I am selling per maund of paddy at Tk 800 in local market,” he said.

Abdul Mannan Munshi, another farmer of Churikata village under the  upazila, said favourable weather with sufficient rainfall helped the good yield.

Shankar Chandra, a farmer of Dakkhin Dashpara village under Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali, said, “I cultivated Aman paddy on my 3.16 acres of land and see good yield. I am also very happy to see good price in the marker this year.”

Patuakhali Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) source said hybrid variety of Aman was cultivated on 1,00,950 hectares and local varieties on 1,01,663 hectares of land in the district.

SM Badrul Alam, Amtali upazila DAE officer, said there is bumper yield of Aman this year although weather was very rough in the beginning.

Our Benapole Correspondent reports: Farmers of Jessore region are passing busy time, reaping and threshing Aman paddy.

The Department of Agriculture Extension sources said farmers cultivated transplanted Aman on 4 lakh 28 thousand and 972 hectares of land against the target of 4 lakh 22 thousand and 825 hectares in Jessore, Jhenidah, Magura, Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur districts.

Of it, high yielding varieties have been planted on 4 lakh seven thousand and 120 hectares, hybrid paddy on 17 thousand 997 hectares and local varieties on 3,855 hectares of land.

Fasiar Rahman, a farmer of Hatbilla village in Jessore Sadar upazila, said, "We planted paddy on three bighas of land. The yield has been good. The price is also good. Unlike other years, prices did not fall when paddy is harvested.”

“This year, a maund of coarse paddy is selling at Tk 900 and glossy paddy at Tk 960. Last year, the prices were Tk 760 and Tk 820 respectively,” said farmer Nazrul Islam.

“The harvest of Aman paddy will complete within a week. The production will exceed the target of 11 lakh 85 thousand and 956 tonnes this year,” said Chandi Das Kundu, additional director of the DAE in Jessore region.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: Farmers of the district's Sadullapur upazila are disappointed due to production fall of the crop this season, mostly due to floods and attack by pest and worm.

Locals said this upazila is not a flood-prone area but during the last rainy season water from the upstream flooded vast tracts of croplands and stayed for a long time.

“I planted Aman seedlings on five bighas of land, but floodwater partially damaged seedlings on three bighas of land and later remaining fields were affected by pest and diseases, so I have got poor output,” said Azizar Rahman of Rasulpur union.

“This year I have harvested only 18 maunds of Aman paddy from three bighas of land although about 40 maunds of yield is expected in a usual situation,” said Rahim Mia, a farmer of Jamalpur union.

“As flood, pests and diseases affected Aman yield, we suggest better preparation for next Boro crop farming. We will extend all possible help to recoup the loss of Aman,” said ASM Fazley Elahi, upazila agriculture officer of Sadullapur.