Rangpur, Aug 7: The government through the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has taken massive steps to make the Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) rice cultivation programme a success in the flood-hit Rangpur agriculture region. Meanwhile, farmers have become more enthusiastic following frantic efforts engaged by the government to assist them in recouping crop losses caused by floods in the two phases in all five districts of the region this season.
Talking to journalists Friday, Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Muhammad Ali said farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 3,51,470 hectares of land which is 58.08 percent against the fixed farming target for the region.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 16,97,795 tonnes of clean T-Aman rice (25,46,693 tonnes of paddy) from 6,05,140 hectares of land for Rangpur agriculture region this season.
“Against a requirement of preparing seedbeds on 30,391 hectares of land to produce seedlings for transplantation on 6,05,140 hectares, farmers have prepared the same on 34,176 hectares, higher by 3,785 hectares or 12.45 percent than required,” Ali said.
However, the floods have damaged Aman rice seedbeds on 1,196 hectares of land causing losses to seedlings worth Taka 15.95 crore affecting 38,705 farmers in the region.
Besides, the floods have damaged transplanted T-Aman rice on 111 hectares of land causing production losses of 320 tonnes of rice worth Taka 1.16 crore and affecting 1,222 farmers.
“The floods have totally damaged various standing crops on 14,784 hectares of land causing production losses of 46,658 tonnes of crops worth Taka 174.28 crore affecting 1,72,239 farmers of 29 upazilas in the region this season,” Ali added.
Considering all these aspects, the government has taken massive post-flood agri-rehabilitation programmes to assist flood-affected farmers in recouping crop losses in the region.
“The DAE has prepared community Aman rice seedbeds on 221 acres of land at union and ward levels in flood-hit areas, including 105 acres each in Kurigram and Gaibandha, five acres in Rangpur and three acres each in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari,” Ali said.
Besides, 500 floating Aman rice seedbeds have been prepared in flood-affected areas of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts.
“The produced Aman rice seedlings will be distributed after mid-August among affected farmers at their doorsteps free of costs for re-transplantation on their flood-affected croplands,” Ali said.
“Besides, Aman rice seeds will be distributed among affected farmers for broadcasting those on their croplands,” Ali said, adding that trays are also being distributed among affected farmers for preparing Aman rice seedbeds on waters.
Apart from this, affected farmers will get special government assistance in cultivating late ‘Ganjia’ varieties of Aman rice and early varieties of vegetables, ‘mash kalai’, vegetables, maize and other crops on their submerged croplands.
In addition to the DAE, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and other organisations have taken steps in the pretext of floods to make the T-Aman rice cultivation programme a success in the region.
“The farmers have enough time till August for transplantation and re-transplantation of T-Aman rice seedlings on their submerged croplands after recession of floodwaters,” Ali added.
Talking to BSS, farmers Joynal Rahamat Ali of Rajpur area in Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat and Fazlul Haque of Nayekerhat village of Nageshwari upazila in Kurigram said the floods have damaged their Aman rice seedbeds and other standing crops.
Farmer Abdul Mazid of village Godai Balapara in Rangpur said the DAE officials are extending necessary assistance to flood-hit farmers for re-transplantation of Aman rice seedlings on submerged croplands.
