KHULNA : The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)
has set a target to prepare Aman rice seedbeds on 16,464 hectares of land
across the Khulna agricultural region during the current season to ensure an
adequate supply of seedlings for transplantation.
According to the DAE, the target includes 12,340 hectares
for high-yielding Aman varieties, 1,510 hectares for hybrid varieties and 2,614
hectares for local varieties.
Meanwhile, farmers in all four districts under the Khulna
agricultural region have already started preparing Aman seedbeds, with the
activities expected to gather momentum by the first week of August under
favourable weather conditions.
The government has set a target of producing 871,971
tonnes of clean Aman rice from 289,859 hectares of land in the region this
season.
The production goal includes 670,064 tonnes of
high-yielding Aman from 220,442 hectares, 115,661 tonnes of hybrid Aman from
30,216 hectares, and 86,246 tonnes of local Aman from 39,201 hectares.
During the previous season, farmers produced 871,940
tonnes of clean Aman rice by cultivating the crop on 298,635 hectares across
the region.
As of July 22, Aman seedbeds had been prepared on 5,852
hectares of land, said Md. Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the DAE for
the Khulna region.
The government has undertaken a series of initiatives to
boost Aman production despite the gradual decline in cultivable land. These
include promoting balanced fertilizer application, expanding the use of
improved farming technologies and providing quality seeds and fertilizers to
small and marginal farmers as incentives.
To avert any shortage of seedlings during floods, the DAE
is also preparing seedbeds for late Aman varieties on higher land and floating
seedbeds in low-lying areas.
In addition, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development
Corporation (BADC) will keep irrigation pumps ready across the region to
facilitate timely transplantation if rainfall remains insufficient or drought
conditions arise.
“DAE officials are providing necessary assistance,
training and the latest technologies to farmers to ensure the successful
cultivation of Aman rice,” Rafiqul Islam said.
“Enthusiastic farmers are now preparing Aman seedbeds and
croplands simultaneously, as favourable climatic conditions prevail across the
region,” he added.
Meanwhile, the government has distributed high-yielding
Aman paddy seeds among 44,000 farmers across the Khulna agricultural region,
comprising Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail districts, to support seedbed
preparation and the ongoing Aman cultivation season.
According to DAE data, the distribution was completed last
week, benefiting 15,000 farmers in Khulna, 8,000 in Bagerhat, 15,000 in
Satkhira and 6,000 in Narail.
