The farmers in Jhenaidah have started harvesting the Aus paddy from their lands, while they have been transplanting the seedlings of Aman (T Aman). Farmers are harvesting Aus, transplanting T-Aman seedlings subsequently. Additional farm labourers were deployed for faster work. It has also increased the labour charges at 25 percent higher.
They (farmers) have started the dual activities to strengthen their socio-economic state as well as produce surplus food grains for the nation, said the agriculture department officials.
When this correspondent visited Chatkabaria and Dariapur villages of Harinakundu and Sarutia of Shailkupa upazila, came to know that the farmers have been hiring the day labourers at Taka 600 to 700 for a day for harvesting Aus, transplanting Aman seedlings and jute rotting purposes which was 400 to 450 two weeks back.
The farmers said they have been showing eagerness in paddy farming when they were receiving better prices for last few years. Further, the straw, a main ingredients fodder is also sold at better prices. Most of the farmers are so busy with Aus harvesting, T Aman seedlings transplantation and jute rotting at time.
Office sources of the deputy director of the department of agriculture extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah, the farmers of Jhenaidah Sadar, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur, Moheshpur, Shailkupa and Harinakundu brought 36,424 hectares of land under the Aus farming in the current season. They have been receiving 3.207 tones of rice from each hectare on an average. About 30 percent of the ripen Aus was harvested in last two weeks, while the remaining is expected to harvest within two other weeks.
DAE sources said they had set target to cultivate paddy on 104,115 hectares of land in the district. The farmers have already transplanted the seedlings on 94,590 hectares till August 9. The transplantation will be completed by mid September which might exceed the target by 105 percent.
Asgar Ali, deputy director of the department of agriculture extension in Jhenaidah when contacted said the farmers in the district are so busy with their work when Aus harvesting, T Aman seedlings transplantation and jute rotting have appeared before them at time.
As the farmers have been reaping better prices of paddy and straw both, they have been increasing the paddy farming. The increasing price of the paddy will strengthen the socio-economic state of the farmers as most of the farmers have been changing their lot every year from the farming. It has been also contributing in producing enough food grains for the country as well as to export in other countries, deputy director said.