Khulna Correspondent :
Aman Paddy yield in the fields of various upazilas of Khulna district has brought smiles to the faces of farmers. A bumper crop of Aman rice has been harvested across vast fields in the current Aman season of Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district. Farmers are overwhelmed with happiness after getting the expected crop yield.
It can be seen on the ground that field after field covered in green is now a wave of ripe golden rice. Farmers’ hearts are swaying in the sway of ripe rice plants. They are smiling with satisfaction with the joy of bringing new rice home.
With the favorable weather, less insect infestation and the activity of agricultural officials in the fields, local farmers here are hoping that they will benefit from rice cultivation this time. As the yield of local varieties of rice is not as expected due to various reasons, farmers here are turning to Aman’s high-yielding Bri variety of rice.
Md. Afzal Hossain, a farmer from Surkhali village in Jalma Union, said, “I have planted Bri 87 rice on 11 bighas of land, and have used fertilizers and pesticides. However, it is much less than last year. I have used fertilizers using the Khamari app on this land, so I am expecting to get 18 to 20 maunds of rice per bigha of land.” Md. Abul Fazal, a farmer from Harintana village, said, “This time I have cultivated the new Bri 103 rice. The yield is 21 maunds per bigha, which is what we are happy with.” Manoj Majumdar, a farmer from Chakrakhali village, said.
“I have cultivated the local fragrant variety of rice. The local variety of rice has just started ripening. The harvesting of local varieties of rice will begin in a few days. However, I am hoping that this year the yield will be higher than other years.”
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Jibananda Roy said, “We are holding group discussions with the farmers and providing various suggestions so that the maximum yield of paddy can be ensured. We have harvested a few sample crops and the yield per hectare is about 5.5 metric tons.”
Upazila Agriculture Officer Abu Bakar Siddique said, “During the current Aman season, the target of Aman paddy was 17,400 hectares of land in the upazila this year and 100 percent of that land was cultivated with Aman paddy.”
He also said, “This year, the yield of Aman paddy has been good due to favorable weather and no major pest attacks.”
Farmers are now busy harvesting paddy in the field. However, it is expected that if there is no major natural disaster and the farmers can bring their produce home on time, they will get a bumper yield.
