Harvest of T-Aman (transplanted Aman) paddy, a highly valued crop, is nearing completion in all seven upazilas of the Gaibandha district during the current season.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said a total of 1,27,500 hectares of land were fixed to bring under T-Aman paddy cultivation this year.
Later, the target fixed by the department was exceeded and the paddy was farmed on 1,29,699 hectares of land bringing more than 2,199 hectares of land under favourable climatic conditions during the current season.
The growers continued harvesting the crop amid much enthusiasm and are getting bumper production side by side with getting fair prices against the crop this season.
To make the cultivation programme a grand success, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) timely distributed high-quality Aman seed to the farmers of the district at fair prices.
Besides, different state-run commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank disbursed Agri loans on easy terms to the poor and marginal farmers of the district to help them cultivate the T-Aman paddy on their land this season, sources said.
Md Mitu Miah, a farmer of Barobaldia under the Malibari union of Sadar upazila, said the farmers’ community was much happy as they were getting desired output and fair prices against the production by selling it in the local markets.
District Training Officer of the DAE Dr Rezaul Islam said favourable climatic conditions, proper distribution of high-quality seed by BADC and timely supply of fertilisers and other Agri inputs to the growers are the reasons for getting the desired production of the crop.
Apart from this, DAE also provided training programmes to the farmers of the district for adopting modern technologies of paddy cultivation, crop management and preservation of quality seed, he also said.
Talking to the BSS, Deputy Director of the DAE Krishibid Belal Uddin said over 90 per cent harvest of the paddy had already been completed by December 10 and the rest would be finished by December 20.
