Govt takes agriculture scheme to combat Monga in Rangpur
The government took a scheme to cultivate BRRI dhan-33, a short duration variety of aman paddy, in five districts to generate job opportunities for the Monga-stricken people of Rangpur region during off-season.
The scheme was taken up to bring 40,000 hectares under the cultivation of the new variety, developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts to provide jobs for the labourers during the Bengali months of Ashwin and Kartik, which is usually off-season for them.
Farmers, as part of the scheme, cultivated 10,000 hectares in the district. Of the total, 1,500 hectares were cultivated each in Sadar and Pirganj upazilas, 1,000 hectares each in Taraganj and Kaunia upazilas, 1,142 hectares in Gangachara, 1,058 hectares in Badarganj, 1,600 hectares in Mithapukur and 1,200 hectares in Pirgaccha upazila.
Official sources said the labourers usually remain unemployed during the two months as the traditional type of aman need more time to be matured. But Ashwin and Kartik are the pick season of harvesting this new variety of paddy.
The day-labourers could easily be involved in harvesting the paddy during the off-season and make money and the farmers can also cultivate other crops on their land after the cultivation of BRRI Dhan-33.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) developed the variety and is implementing the programme with the help of its Rangpur Regional Office, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and a total of 31 NGOs in the Rangpur region.
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