Aman harvesting going on in full swing

Aman paddy harvesting has started in full swing everywhere in Moulvibazar district, with farmers expecting a bumper production this season.

Especially, BRRI Dhan-75, a variety of Aman paddy that matures early and has a short crop cycle, has given new opportunities to farmers of the region for timely cultivation of rabi crops like wheat, lentil, mustard, maize, and other winter crops.

According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources, 1.01 lakh hectares of cropland have been brought under short-duration Ropa Aman paddy cultivation in the region, which is 425 hectares higher than last year.

Of these, BRRI-75, Ufsi, and other short-duration paddy varieties have been cultivated on 1,110 hectares of land.

In the past, the vast haor area of the district could only be used for Boro paddy.

However, now with the short-duration varieties, the croplands can be used for cultivating three crops, said DAE sources.

The duration of Aman paddy cultivation is from Shrabon to Kartik (July to October) and after this, farmers would be cultivating other winter crops, such as mustard and Boro paddy, they added.

During a recent visit to Rajnagar and Barlekha upazilas, vast croplands were seen burgeoning with a golden hue on ripe Aman plants, while their fresh fragrance spread all over the region.

Farmers were very busy harvesting paddy with their farmhands, and the fields, overflowing with fully-ripe paddy, brought smiles to their faces.

They expect a good yield and fair prices this season, they said.

They told The Business Post they were reaping high-yield and short-duration varieties like BR-4, BRRI Dhan-71, 75, and different varieties of Ufsi Dhan.

The other varieties will be harvested within the next couple of days as most of the paddy in the fields is now at the ripening stage, they said.

Md Abdur Rob, a farmer of Kharidpur village in Rajnagar upazila who cultivated BRRI Dhan-75 on five bighas of land, said this variety of paddy takes less time to mature and requires less investment.

“The haor lands were previously uncultivable, but the new Aman variety is cultivable in the low-lying areas of the wetland, which is a massive improvement.”

According to DAE officials, in one of their exhibition plots they have funded, they got a yield of 18 maunds from a bigha of land.

They have invested Tk 12,500 and got Tk 19,200 from the sale, gaining a profit of Tk 6,700.

Md Sahabuddin, chairman of Sabajpur union parishad, told The Business Post farmers were able to collect the high-yield Aman seeds and fertilisers in due time, and that is why they had secured a bumper yield.

Sheikh Iffat Ara Islam, an agricultural officer of Rajnagar upazila, said: “BRRI Dhan-75 is a high-yield variety and can be harvested within only 110 to 115 days. This variety is also immune to different pest attacks and requires less labour, time, and investment.”

“Due to its short growth duration and high yield potential, these Aman varieties will open doors for farmers to command a higher price, harvesting it early and making a profit with a timely planting of rabi crops. These varieties will hopefully be a blessing for farmers, increasing crops and crop cycles all over the country, including in Moulvibazar,” said Kazi Lutful Bari, deputy director of Moulvibazar DAE.