Early Aman paddy harvest brings smiles to Panchagarh farmers

PANCHAGARH, Nov 13: Early-maturing Aman paddy varieties are ripening in Panchagarh fields at the beginning of Kartik, allowing farmers to harvest their crops nearly one to one-and-a-half months ahead of the traditional season.

The early harvest is bringing smiles to farmers and creating employment opportunities for agricultural labourers, who previously faced a shortage of work during the lean months of Ashwin and Kartik.

For generations, farmers in northern Bangladesh have followed the saying, "Harvest Aman rice on the eighth day of Agrahayan, wherever you are." However, the introduction of early-maturing varieties has changed the traditional harvesting calendar.

Farmers are now bringing home fresh rice earlier and preparing traditional cakes and other delicacies with the new harvest.

Previously, agricultural labourers had little work between Aman transplantation and the beginning of Agrahayan. Many migrated to other districts in search of jobs during this period. But early Aman cultivation and winter vegetable farming after the rice harvest have created employment opportunities throughout the year.

Farmers on relatively high land in Panchagarh have already started harvesting early varieties. Those whose crops are yet to ripen are borrowing newly harvested rice from others to meet their needs.

Demand for fresh straw has also increased due to a shortage of cattle feed, allowing farmers to earn extra money by selling it.

Farmers said early varieties, including BRRI Dhan-33, 56, 62 and 72, BINA Dhan-7, and Indian varieties Guti Swarna and Swarna Pari, had started ripening.

While traditional Aman varieties yielded eight to 10 maunds per bigha, early varieties were producing 15 to 20 maunds, they said.
After threshing, bundles of fresh straw from one bigha of land are selling for Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000.

Many farmers are also preparing their land for winter crops, including early potatoes, mustard and vegetables, immediately after harvesting Aman.

Abdul Latif, a farmer from Pradhanpara Village in Maidandighi Union of Boda Upazila, cultivated Aman paddy on two bighas of land this season. His entire crop has ripened, and he is preparing to harvest it within the next two to three days.

"The condition of the crop is very good this year. I hope to get 19 to 20 maunds per bigha," he said.

However, he faced difficulties due to pest attacks on his rice fields towards the end of the monsoon and had to spend a considerable amount on pesticides.

"Production costs have increased significantly compared to previous years," he said.

Latif said newly harvested paddy was selling for Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200 per maund at Maidandighi market.

"We would benefit if the price reached Tk 1,500 per maund. After harvesting rice from my two bighas, I will prepare the land for potato cultivation. I will also grow vegetables on some plots and sell the surplus in the market," he added.

Panchagarh Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Abdul Matin said the cultivation target for Aman rice this season was 1.44 lakh hectares, but the crop had been cultivated on 1.45 lakh hectares, according to the latest estimates.

"Favourable weather conditions have raised hopes of a bumper harvest. The production target has been set at 3,61,286 tonnes, but we expect production to exceed the target this year," he said.