Khulna farmers eye bumper Aman yield

Farmers of the Khulna region are eyeing a bumper yield and expecting the production to exceed the target fixed by the Department of Agricultural Extension.

According to the DAE, 93,316 hectares of land in the nine upazilas of Khulna have been brought under Aman cultivation in the 2021-22 fiscal year with a target of producing 92,730 tonnes of unhusked rice.

Aman is cultivated on 3,890 hectares of land in Rupsha, on 17,600 hectares in Batiaghata, 1,920 hectares in Dighalia, 15,950 hectares in Dumuria, 17,253 hectares in Paikgachha, 905 hectares in Terakhada, 19,135 hectares in Dacope, 14,720 hectares in Koyra, and 1,430 hectares in Phultala.

The DAE officials said that in the previous year 92,820 hectares of land were brought under Aman cultivation against a target of 92,520 hectares.

The growers said Aman is the main crop in the southwestern part of the country. It meets most of the demand for paddy in the district. As the weather remained favourable this year with a profuse blossom, they are expecting a good yield, they added.

If the weather remains favourable, the production will exceed the target, said Md Fariduzzaman, an agricultural officer of Rupsha.

“According to our estimation, the district will get a bumper yield of Aman this year. However, we are suggesting the farmers use nets to save their crops from pest attacks,” he added.

Rabiul Islam, an agricultural officer of Batiaghata, told The Business Post that they are inspecting the croplands regularly to help the farmers in case of any inconvenience.

“The farmers have planted high-quality Aman seeds this year. If the weather remains favourable, farmers would be able to get six tonnes of paddy each hectare,” said Shafiqul Islam, an agricultural officer of Terakhada.

Mehedi Hasan Khan, agricultural officer Dacope, told The Business Post that they had employed deputy assistant agricultural officers to inspect and monitor the croplands.

Director of Khulna DAE, Hafizur Rahman, told The Business Post, “We are expecting a good harvest of Aman as they blossomed more than expectation.”