A bumper yield of early variety Aman paddy has been achieved in Ulipur of Kurigram. Harvesting has started in full swing after the yield. Due to the good yield and price of paddy, farmers now have a smile on their faces.
It is known that in the current season, 13 unions of the Upazila and 1 municipality have cultivated BRRI Dhan-70, 71, 75, Bina Dhan-11, 17, Hybrid Arise-701 and Hira Dhan-10 early varieties of paddy. Farmers have to face various difficulties from the beginning of cultivation of this early variety of paddy to harvesting and threshing. At the beginning of the Aman cultivation, the farmers had to keep the rice plants alive through irrigation due to drought. After that, even if the rice is properly cared for, when the rice is ripe and harvested, it suddenly appears as a blow on the die in a stormy wind. Despite all this, farmers have succeeded in cultivating early varieties of rice in the Upazila. Already early varieties of rice have started growing in the houses of farmers in different areas. Farmers are smiling as the market price of this paddy is higher in the fall season. Talking to traders in different markets of the Upazila, it is known that currently Aman paddy is being sold for 1 thousand 150 taka to 1 thousand 200 taka per mound. In the current season, early varieties of Aman have been cultivated in 1 thousand 735 hectares of land in the Upazila.
Now different varieties of advance paddy are now in the house of the farmer. Earlier, threshing of paddy fields was started after the first week of harvesting. But now they do not have to wait for fall season fully to harvest Aman paddy. Early varieties, especially hybrid AZ-701, are being harvested by farmers in the month of Ashwin. Due to climate change, new varieties of rice are being cultivated in the area suitable for untimely rainfall and severe drought. These early varieties of paddy are being harvested at home only within 120 days from the day of sowing the seeds under the seed bed.
So the farmers are now interested in cultivating these early varieties of paddy instead of cultivating different varieties of Mandhata period including Pani Sail, Paijam, BR-11, 22. Farmers said that early Aman rice is suitable for harvesting in 100 to 120 days. The average yield per hectare is 4.5 to 5 metric tons. This paddy harvest is completed before insect attack. Again, by cutting this paddy, it is possible to quickly plant various types of vegetables including potatoes, wheat, mustard, sesame seeds and plantains on that land.
Mohsin Ali, an exemplary farmer of Thetrai Union, said that this time he planted Bri-71 rice of early variety on 5 acres of land. Harvesting and threshing of early varieties of rice is almost over. He got 60 to 61 mounds of paddy per acre. He is happy that the price of paddy is good in the market.
In this regard, Upazila Agricultural Extension Officer Mukit Bin Liakat said, bumper crop of early varieties of paddy has been produced. Farmers are interested in cultivating this variety of rice due to less time and higher yield.