Drought delays Aush paddy farming in Patnitala
Masud Rana, Patnitala (Naogaon)
Ignoring all the rain and drought, the farmer grows one crop after another, preparing for another crop as soon as he brings home one crop. With the harvest of Boro paddy almost over, farmers of Patnitala Upazila of the district are busy cultivating Aush paddy.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, a target of Aush paddy cultivation has been set on about 6,660 hectares of land in the current Aush season in 1 municipality and 11 unions of the upazila. The Upazila Agriculture Office has distributed fertilizers and seeds among the farmers to attract them to Aush paddy cultivation. The farmers are said to be more enthusiastic after receiving the seeds and fertilizers. Under the incentive, each of 4,500 marginal farmers has been provided with 10 kg DAP, 10 kg MOP and 5 kg paddy seeds. In addition, meetings were held and various trainings and field level advice have been provided to farmers from the Agriculture Department.
This time, high-yielding BRRI Dhan-48, BRRI Dhan-56 and BRRI Dhan-98 along with local varieties of Aush paddy are being planted in the upazila. On a field visit to various fields in the upazila, it can be seen that the farmers are busy planting Aush paddy. Some are putting ladders in the land, some are lifting seedlings, and some are planting. Each of the agricultural workers is getting Tk 1,600 per bigha under the Aush paddy planting agreement.
Anil Chandra Mahanta, a farmer from Nadaur Village of Najipur Union in the upazila, said, “This time I have planted Aush paddy on about 5-bigha land. Compared to last year, there is a lot of shortage of agricultural laborers. The cost of planting Aush paddy is also high this year. Even though the month of Ashar has started, due to lack of rain, we have to plant Aush paddy by paying irrigation charges. This has caused a slight delay. Many are waiting for rain again.”
Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Sohrab Hossain said, “If the weather is favorable, there will be a bumper harvest of Aush paddy. The Agriculture Department is always by the side of the farmers.”
