Early variety of Aman helps better cropping pattern

Harvesting of early variety of Aman paddy has begun in the district, facilitating farmers to follow a new cropping pattern as they get the time to cultivate four crops in a year.

They first harvest Aman, then Robi crops, Aus and Boro in a cycle, instead of the traditional three crops, for getting more profit and creating job opportunity for marginal farm workers.

The Bangla months of Ashwin and Kartik (mid-September to mid-November) are regarded as monga period as farm workers sit idle after transplanting Aman paddy saplings. As a result, they have no scope to earn money to maintain their families.

Nilphamari Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Additional Deputy Director Md Sirajul Islam said early variety of paddy developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)  takes only 100 to 110 days to ripen after transplantation, while traditional varieties need 140 to150 days.

“Farmers are now inclined towards cultivating early paddy to get good price in the lean period and also get scope to follow a new cropping pattern of four crops a year,” he further said.

Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) of district DAE Arif Rabbani said Aman was cultivated on about 1.13 lakh hectares of land this year in the district. Early variety of paddy like Bina-7, BRRI Dhan-33, BRRI Dhan-39, BRRI Dhan-57 and hi-breed varieties have been cultivated on 15,000 hectares with a target to produce around 70,000 tonnes of rice.

On a visit to Laxmichap, Ramganj, Sukhdhon in Sadar upazila, and Chadkhana, Putimari, Nitai in Kishoreganj upazila, this correspondent found that farmers were happy and passing busy time in cutting and threshing early paddy.

Sabuj Ali, 50, of Chandkhana said he cultivated early variety of hi-breed Hira Dhan on four bighas of land. He got 72 maunds of paddy that he sold for Tk 50,000, making good profit.

Sree Sitanath Roy, 55, a farmer of Sukhdhon village, said he completed harvesting early variety Bina-7 paddy a week ago and was preparing the land to cultivate potato, followed by Aus and then Boro.

Razek Ali of Nitai village, who also rears cattle, said this year's scanty rainfall caused a scarcity of grass, but he has no problem now as he got sufficient straw by harvesting early paddy.

“Farmers are now aware of their own benefit and adopting new cropping patterns. Inclination towards early variety paddy is an example of this trend,” said Nilphamari DAE Deputy Director Md Abul Kashem Azad.