T-Aman farming underway in full swing in Sylhet, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat

Farmers in different areas of Sylhet, Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts have geared up cultivation of transplanted Aman (T-Aman) paddy in their fields.

Our Sylhet correspondent reports: Farmers in greater Sylhet region have started transplantation of Aman paddy seedlings in their fields with the hope to recoup the crop damage inflicted by the recent floods, officials and farmers said.

Contacted, an official at the divisional office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) told this correspondent that most of the farmers have already prepared seedbeds.

So far Aman seedlings have been transplanted on 13,566 hectares of land out of the targeted 21,365 hectares in four districts of the region, where the paddy is considered as the main crop.

This year target has been set to cultivate Aman on 417,190 hectares of land in the entire region to produce 1165,522 tonnes of paddy.

The official said that the government gave seeds and fertilisers to be distributed as incentives among the 50, 800 poor and marginal farmers in Sylhet region while 25,400 more flood-hit farmers under the rehabilitation programme are being assisted with seeds and fertilisers.

Distribution of the farming inputs worth Tk49.2 million (Tk4.92 crore) has been completed recently.

In most of the areas, farmers are busy tilling lands and have already prepared seedbeds, said farmer Farid Mia of Turukbag village in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet.

In the last season, there was a good Aman yield beyond the target in the region due to favourable weather condition.

Our correspondent from Rangpur reports: Around 1,66,000 hectares of land have been brought under Aman farming in eight upazilas of Rangpur district during the current season and transplantation of seedlings has been completed in most of the areas.

Farmers informed the FE that they can now heave a sigh of relief as Aman seedlings in their fields which were about to dry up owing to lack of rain are now assuming an impressive greenish look.

It is learnt, the Aman cultivators of the district became apprehensive due to lack of rain since the very time they transplanted paddy seedlings. But sufficient rainfall has removed their fear, making them optimistic about achieving an expected yield.

Sources said for want of sufficient rainfall, transplantation of Aman seedlings was seriously hindered across the region during the peak time.

Only the solvent farmers of the region were able to transplant seedlings as they could irrigate their lands by using shallow pumps. But the small and marginal farmers failed to afford it as it was very expensive.

According to the DAE, Rangpur office, a target was set to bring approximately 1,66,000 hectares of land under Aman paddy farming in eight upazilas of the district during the current season.

A good number of growers told the FE that they generally start transplantation of seedlings at the beginning of the month of July, but on account of lack of rain, cultivation of Aman paddy was delayed this season, as a result, seedbeds in many areas were getting damaged.

But sufficient rainfall during past several days helped the growers get rid of the adverse circumstances.

Expressing satisfaction, Ariful, another farmer of Haragachh area in Kaunia upazila of the district, told the FE that he became worried at the initial stage of transplanting Aman seedlings in his two bighas of land owing to lack of rain.

But recent rainfall came as a boon for him and other farmers of his area and helped them make vigorous efforts to prepare their lands for transplanting seedlings within the stipulated time.

Terming the much-awaited rainfall as a blessing for the cultivators, Md Enamul Haque, district training officer, DAE, Rangpur, told the FE that adequate rainfall over the past several days has brought smiles back on the faces of the farmers.

At present, transplantation of Aman seedlings is going on smoothly across the district. The cultivators are being given necessary assistances as well as advices in this regard from the DAE so that they can get their desired production of the crop this season.

Our correspondent from Lalmonirhat adds: Farmers are continuing Aman seedling transplantation amid much enthusiasm in five upazilas of the district, except for worrying for a prevailing drought-like situation.

Sources said thousands of growers in the five upazilas are very much worried about their T-Aman farming as there has been no rain for long in the region.

Farmers cannot ready their fields for cultivating T-aman paddy in the current season for want water in absence of rain while Bengali month of Ashar has already ended.

Normally farmers start preparation from the early month of Ashar but this year they could not prepare lands for lack of rainwater.

Visiting some areas of the district, it was seen that most cultivable lands remained dry and were lying empty. Farmers were waiting for rainwater to start their preparations for T-Aman plating.

Samsul Alom, a farmer of Dhotogach village under sadar upazila of the district, said that he was yet to plant T-Aman seedlings for the unavailability of water.

Even most of the waterbodies in the region are also dry. But T-Aman can be planted at the end of Shrabon month. So for the next one month farmers will remain busy transplanting T-Aman.

Abid Ali, a farmer of Aditmari village, said, "This year I will cultivate T-Aman on 12 bighas of land but for lack of water I could not prepare my land."

According to the DAE, Lalmonirhat, 86,6,50 hectares of land have been brought under T-Aman cultivation in the district this year. Farmers could transplant seedlings on 4,690 hectares of

land so far. Most of the targeted area has still remained out of plantation.

When asked, Dr Shaikul Arefin, deputy director (DD) of the DAE, Lalmonirhat, said that farmers could not plant T-Aman for want of rainwater in the region.

"Last two months there was no rainfall and heat wave was prevailing in the region. But rain has begun already in the area; so nothing to worry. Farmers can plant T-Aman in middle of August," he added.

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