Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Early bumper production of the high-yielding Aman crop BINA paddy 26 (BINA dhan26) on 50 hectares in two villages of Magura Sadar Upazila has brought smiles to growers.
Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Magura, said this is the first time the cultivation of the paddy variety has become successful in the district.
Farmers say although the harvesting of at least 20 other 'common' Aman paddy varities will not start sooner than at least a month -- as the plantations were delayed due to seedbeds sustaining rainfall damage this year, the BINA paddy 26 reached maturity quickly.
Having sold the yield following the early harvest, farmers secured a good profit amid less competition.
Haradhom, a farmer of Magura Sadar Upazila's Derua, said he has secured 27 maunds of paddy from each bigha of his land after cultivating BINA paddy 26 on a total of two bighas. "Other common varities provide 20 maunds per bigha. Moreover, my production of BINA 26 paddy has taken 120 days as against 130 for the common varieties of Aman paddy."
Farmer Golam Reza of Magura's Shibrampur Upazila said harvesting of other varities of Aman paddy would not be possible before a month as seedbeds were badly damaged due to heavy rainfall this year. "Our experience is that this (BINA paddy 26) variety is less vulnerable to waterlogging. Moreover, we have sold our paddy at a high price due to its early harvestability."
He also said the farmers sold 'common' varieties of Aman paddy last year at Tk 1,050 per maund and they could not make a high profit due to abundant supply. "But this year we sold our BINA 26 paddy at Tk 1,200 per maund as there is a crisis of paddy in the market at present. This price is highly satisfactory."
He believes that the price will fall after a month when other varities of Aman paddy are harvested.
Dr. Shushan Chouhan, officer at BINA, Magura, said, "Outstanding success has been achieved in producing BINA 26 paddy in the district." He added that they would not be able to meet the seed demand of all the farmers next year.
litan1968@gmail.com