RAJSHAHI, July 22: Despite the full season, there is no rain in the district. As a result, the farmers have become frustrated as they cannot plant the seedlings of Transplanted Aman (T-Aman).
Many farmers prepared seedbeds for early cultivation, but the seedlings are being destroyed in the seedbeds.
Meanwhile, as per alternative way, many farmers are irrigating their lands with shallow tube-wells and machines and planting the seedlings. But, because of extreme drought, the situation of these lands is also bad. If this situation continues, the T-Aman cultivation and production target may not be achieved this season, said concerned sources.
Agriculture office sources said this year's T-Aman farming target in Rajshahi is 73,335 hectares of land, while the seedbeds have been prepared on 3,667 ha of land.
Besides, T-Aman will be cultivated on more 3.50 lakh ha of land in the region's Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts this season. In this connection, seedbeds have been prepared on more than 18,000 ha of land at those districts. But, due to lack of require rainfall, the cultivation target may not be achieved. The farmers could plant T-Aman seedlings on about 6,000 ha of lands after irrigating those with shallow machines and tube-wells.
Farmer Lutfar Rahman of Shugna Village under Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi said, "I will cultivate T-Aman on 32 bighas of land this season. For this, I prepared seedbeds on 35 decimals of land. Though the rainy season is passing, there is no rain. I could not plant seedlings even on one bigha of land."
Farmer Ashraful Islam of Tanore Municipality said, "I cultivate T-Aman with low cost every year. But, this time I'm worried about the cultivation. There is no rain even the season is passing. Finding no option, I irrigated some lands with the deep tube-well of Barind Multipurpose Authority and planted Aman seedlings on two bighas of land out of 10 bighas. I'm worried about the rest lands."
In this connection, Tanore Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiqul Islam said, as there was not required rainfall, the farmers irrigated their lands with deep tube-wells and could plant seedlings on about 6,000 ha of lands only. The Aman sapling plantation will end by July. If there is no rainfall, the cultivation will be hampered to a little bit.
"We are advising farmers to irrigate their lands using optional means and plant the seedlings," he added.
