Farmers have already completed the transplantation of Aman rice seedlings on 60.26 percent of targeted land areas as the process continues amid frequent rainfalls now in Rangpur agriculture region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 3,70,259 hectares of land, 60.26 percent of targeted land area, for cultivation of the crop till Friday.
 
"We are expecting to achieve the fixed farming target of Aman rice as transplantation of seedling continues well now following frequent rainfalls in recent days," said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Aftab Hossain.
 
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 18,68,032 tonnes of clean Aman rice (28,02,048 tonnes of paddy) from 6,14,400 hectares of land this season for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur in the region.
 
The target includes production of 15,90,513 tonnes of high yielding varieties of Aman rice from 5,27,870 hectares, 2,24,591 tonnes of hybrid varieties from 68,702 hectares and 32,928 tonnes of local varieties of Aman rice from 17,828 hectares of land.
 
"In the meantime, farmers have prepared Aman rice seedbeds in 33,758 hectares of land against the requirement of preparing the same on 30,330 hectares of land for cultivation of the crop on the targeted 6,14,400 hectares of land," Hossain added.
 
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md Obaidur Rahman Mandal said special steps have been taken to ensure the use of high quality seeds, prepare model seedbeds and ensure balanced fertilization to enhance rice production.
 
"Taking into account the possibility of floods, we have also taken special measures to prepare more seedbeds so that the farming process of Aman rice was not affected under any circumstances," Mandal said.
 
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities and farmers put their irrigation pumps into operation for transplantation of Aman rice seedlings amid less rainfalls and a drought-like situation.
 
Field level agriculture officials of the DAE are providing necessary
assistance and latest technologies to the farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman rice.
 
"Besides, we have taken additional measures like preparation of late varieties of Aman rice seedbeds on highlands and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas so that there was no crisis of seedlings for floods," he added.
 
Talking to BSS, a number of local farmers said transplantation of Aman rice seedling has now got momentum following frequent seasonal rainfalls in recent days at most places after a drought-like situation.
 
Earlier, they mostly used lifted underground water to transplant Aman rice seedlings on their lands almost since the beginning of the season due to lack of adequate seasonal rainfalls.
 
"However, farmers are expected to achieve the fixed farming target of Aman rice this season following various realistic steps taken by the government in the region," said farmer Ariful Haque Batul of Najirdigar village in Rangpur sadar upazila.
 
Farmers Mohsin Ali of Rangpur Sadar upazila, Abdul Khaleque and Chand Mian of Kurigram Sadar upazila, Mohir Ali and Nur Mohammad of Nilphamari Sadar upazila said that they already completed the transplantation of Aman seedlings on their lands.
 
"Tender Aman rice plants are growing excellent in crop fields following frequent rainfalls in recent days after a drought-like situation," said farmer Manik Mian of Darshona village in Rangpur Sadar upazila.