Home ›› 07 Dec 2022 ›› Nation
Farmers in Dinajpur are expecting a bumper harvest of aromatic rice cultivated in the current Aman season.
Aromatic rice has been cultivated on 20,260 hectares of land in the district this season.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Dinajpur, farmers have exceeded the paddy plantation target by 2,000 hectares of land in the district in the current Aman season.
DAE sources said the paddy plantation target for the current Aman season in the district was 2,71,200 hectares of land. However, the farmers exceeded the target by cultivating paddy on 2,73,200 hectares of land.
District DAE Deputy Director Md Nuruzzaman Mia said the agricultural officials are providing support and advice to the farmers as necessary.
“Farmers who cultivated aromatic rice are expecting a bumper harvest this season as the weather has been favourable so far. Paddy has already started ripening in the fields,” he said, adding that harvest will begin on December 10.
He praised the farmers for tending to their paddy fields which led to a good harvest.
Pradip Kumar Guha, a former DAE official, said both domestic and international demand for aromatic rice is high. Due to its popularity, the cultivation of aromatic rice is increasing gradually in 13 upazilas of the district including Dinajpur Sadar, Chirirbandar, Birol, and Bochaganj upazila.
Farmer Matiur Rahman of Dinajpur Sadar upazila’s Krishan Bazar area said the district’s aromatic rice Badshah Bhog is well known across the country.
“Although we do not have royalty anymore, Badshah Bhog rice remains as a reminder of those ancient times. Some of us cultivate this variety to continue with the tradition,” he said.
Chini katari, jeera katari, jota katari, kataribhog, Philippino katari, kalo jeera, and chollish jeera are among the most popular varieties of aromatic rice cultivated in the district. The aromatic rice grains are thin and long compared to other varieties.
Dinajpur DAE Assistant Director Ashrafuzzaman said the soil of the district is suitable for kataribhog rice cultivation.
“Flattened rice made from the kataribhog of this region is famous. Many food items including polao, biriyani, jorda, payesh, and phirni are made from this variety of rice,” he said, adding that the demand for aromatic rice is on the rise as it is a staple item in Bengali festivals.
Farmer Fazle Haque of Chirirbandar upazila’s Mathurapur village said, “I have cultivated aromatic paddy on seven acres of land this year and the yield has been good. Rice mill owners are contacting in advance to purchase paddy,” he said.
Fazle has been cultivating aromatic rice for a decade as it is profitable. “Farmers do not have to struggle to sell their harvest after threshing as there is a high demand for aromatic rice in the country,” he said.
Farmer Amjad Hossain of Sadar upazila’s Auniyapur village cultivated aromatic rice on four acres of land this season and expects to get a fair price for the harvest.
“My production cost increased at the last moment as there was some infestation in my field. However, I swiftly took care of it,” he said.
Chirirbandar Upazila Agriculture Officer Zohra Sultana said the majority of aromatic rice is cultivated in this upazila of the district and Jeera-34 is the most commonly cultivated variety.
“Aromatic rice has been recognised as Geographical Indication (GI) product. The rice from Dinajpur represents the nature, culture and heritage of Bangladesh in foreign countries.”
She further said that the DAE is constantly providing the farmers with the necessary support and training to increase aromatic rice production. The yield has been better than last year, and the farmers are satisfied, she added.
