Floating Aman seedbeds to meet urgent need
Many farmers have prepared floating Aman seedbeds in small water bodies for using them during an emergency as they faced saplings crisis after the floods last year.
Having experienced saplings crisis after the floods last year, the district Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) is encouraging farmers to prepare floating Aman seedbeds as it would help them cultivate Aman on targeted lands if they face any serious flood situation.
Narayan Chandra Barmon, 58, a farmer at Guriyadah village in Sadar upazila, said he has prepared two floating seedbeds for Aman saplings in Guriyadah Khal in the village with the help of DAE officials. “If any serious flood situation arises we can overcome the crisis using saplings from the floating seedbeds,” he said, adding that he faced serious sapling crisis after the floods last year.
“For the first time I have prepared floating seedbeds, and I can use the saplings if the Aman plants in the field are damaged by floodwater,” said Nurul Islam, 62, of the same village. “I have cultivated Aman on 12 bighas of land and have not faced any flood,” he added.
Shamsul Alam, 58, of Hajiganj village in Aditmari upazila, said he did not cultivate on the targeted lands due to lack of saplings after the floods last year, so he has prepared floating seedbeds in Hajiganj Khal taking help from DAE. “Till now, we have not faced any flood this year, so we have not used the saplings on floating seedbeds, and if we do not face such a situation we will not use the saplings on floating seedbeds,” he added.
District DAE Deputy Director Bidhubhushon Roy told this correspondent that 1,000 floating seedbeds for Aman saplings have been prepared in the local water bodies for use during any emergency. “DAE officials encourage and provide technical support to farmers for preparing floating seedbeds, which are used only during an emergency. Farmers will not face saplings crisis even during flood,” he said.
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