With favourable weather, farmers in Fulgazi upazila of Feni have prepared seedbeds, raised seedlings and begun planting transplanted Aman rice, if somewhat late. Despite repeated weather warnings through August, farmers made seedbeds during a few days of rain and are once again planting Aman rice under the threat of floods.

According to the Fulgazi upazila office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), seedbeds have been prepared for this transplanted Aman season: 345 hectares of Aman seedbeds, with 6,211 hectares of cultivable land, of which 4,347 hectares have been covered so far.

The agriculture department said planting will be finished within the next two weeks. The Aman paddy target this year is 21,737.50 tonnes, and the rice target 14,492.33 tonnes. A total of 720 farmers in the upazila have received Aman seed and fertiliser as government incentive support. The target for autumn vegetables is 50 hectares.

Abu Taher, a farmer from North Sripur village in Darbarpur union, said: "Because farming costs have gone up, I am planting Aman rice on a small plot. If the weather is good, the yield will be good."

Mokchhedur Rahman, a farmer from North Sripur village in the same union, said: "Although I did not get government incentives after the recent floods, I bought fertiliser and seed, made seedbeds on time despite the fear of floods and am planting Aman rice on 10 bighas."

Jane Alam, a farmer in Fulgazi Sadar union, said: "Our land is along the Muhuri river. Every year there is a risk of floods, and this time too there was. Still, I have started planting Aman on 5 bighas, and I will finish this week."

Farmers in various unions said planting will be completed next week and they are hopeful of a good harvest.

Upazila agriculture officer Krishibid Md Khorshed Alam said: "After Boro, Aman rice is the second most popular crop. Last year Aman was grown on 2,100 hectares, which was 34 per cent of the target. This time the area under cultivation is increasing. So far the weather is better than last year, and the target can be achieved."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.