Transplantation of seedlings of Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) rice has already begun in Rangpur agriculture region where the process will get full momentum by this month-end.

  Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the government has fixed a target of producing about 18.08 lakh tonnes of clean Aman rice (about 27.12 lakh tonnes of paddy) from over 6.15 lakh hectares of land for the region.

  The target includes production of 15,47,403 tonnes of high yielding varieties of Aman rice from 5,32,115 hectares of land, 2,24,765 tonnes of hybrid varieties of Aman rice from 64,035 hectares and 35,748 tonnes of local varieties of Aman rice from 19,535 hectares of land.

  Meanwhile, farmers have so far prepared Aman rice seedbeds on 32,080 hectares of land against the requirement of preparing the same on 30,469 hectares of land for cultivation of the crop on the targeted 6,15,685 hectares of land area in the region.

  "Farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 6,388 hectares of land till Tuesday in all five districts of the region," Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Emdad Hossain Sheikh told BSS today.

  The government has taken special steps to ensure use of high quality seeds, prepare model seedbeds and ensure balanced fertilization and adoption of improved technologies to enhance rice production despite lessening of cultivable land area.

  "Considering the possibility of further floods this season, we have taken special measures to prepare more seedbeds, if required, so that the farming process of Aman rice was not affected under any circumstances in the region," he said.

  Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities (BMDA) and farmers have kept irrigation pumps ready to operate for Aman rice seedling transplantation in case of less rainfall or droughts.

  "Field level agriculture officials of the DAE are providing necessary assistance and latest technologies to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman rice across the region," Hossain said.

  Besides, ample steps have been taken to prepare 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, if any, during July and August months this season.

  "Enthusiastic farmers are transplanting Amn rice seedlings alongside preparing croplands for transplantation of seedlings in all five districts of the region where a favorable climate condition is prevailing for the purpose," Hossain added.

  Talking to BSS, bigger farmers Ariful Haque Batul of village Najirdigar and Manik Miah of village Darshona in Rangpur Sadar said they have already prepared seedbeds and will begin transplantation of Aman rice seedlings on their crop lands from next week.

  Farmers Echhahaq Ali, Aiyub Ali, Mohsin Ali and Mofazzal Hossain of village Kathihara in Rangpur Sadar said they have started transplantation of Aman rice seedlings on their croplands after preparing necessary seedbeds.

  Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman Mandal said farmers are transplanting Aman rice seedlings with huge enthusiasm aiming at achieving the fixed farming target of the major cereal crop to ensure food security.