The government has fixed a target of producing 46,07,625 tonnes T-Aman rice from 17,46,448 hectares land during the current season in the northern region, official sources said on Tuesday.

The farmers have put all-out efforts to make the Aman cultivation programme successful and already exceeded the fixed target of preparing seedbeds for transplantation of the major cereal crop is yet to get momentum by this month end.

According to the sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the farmers have already prepared T-Aman seedlings on 90,500 hectares land against the fixed target of preparing the same on 88,234 hectares land in the region.

Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Md Sikander Ali said that the prevailing weather is very much favourable for timely seedling transplantation following frequent rains in recent weeks almost everywhere.

However, the farmers have kept their own shallow tube wells and Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities (BMDA) its deep tube wells ready for operation to complete T-Aman seedling transplantation at places in case of less rainfall.

Under the programme, 16,03,451 hectares land will be brought under cultivation of high yielding variety T-Aman to produce 43,50,964 tonnes rice, 1,26,606 hectares under local variety Aman farming to produce 2,02,570 tonnes rice and 16,327 hectares under hybrid variety to produce 54,090 tonnes rice.

In addition to the fixed T-Aman cultivation target, the farmers have already brought 93,037 hectares land under Buna Aman farming in the low-lying areas against the fixed target of bringing 83,808 hectares to produce 1,15,65 tonnes Buna Aman rice this season.

Talking to BSS today, Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, Mamunur Rashid said farmers would be able to complete transplantation of T-Aman seedlings timely by mid August amid the prevailing favourable climate.

Farmers Abdul Hakim, Abu Bakar Siddique and Sunil Kumar Kundu of different villages here said they have adequate seedlings ready for transplantation and are facing no problem as the frequent seasonal rainfalls are helping them this season.

Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khandker Md Mesbahul Islam told BSS that the T-Aman seedling transplantation has already started and the government has taken adequate steps to assist the farmers in making the farming programme successful.

Ends/AMA/09/07/13