Rain was scarce at the start of the transplanting season, but adequate rainfall since and favourable weather have farmers and officials in Habiganj expecting a good transplanted-Aman crop. With timely rain and water receding from the haors, the district agriculture office says the target will be met and, barring a natural disaster, growers will have reason to smile.

The district's target this season is about 92,000 hectares: 18,285 in Chunarughat, the largest, followed by 13,405 in Nabiganj, 12,260 in Madhabpur, 10,410 in Habiganj Sadar, 10,270 in Bahubal, 9,685 in Baniachong, 7,650 in Ajmiriganj, 6,950 in Lakhai and 3,090 in Shayestaganj. About 92 per cent of the target area is already planted, and officials expect the rest within days.

Rahim Ali, a farmer in Poil village of Sadar upazila, told BSS good rain let him plant on time and he hopes for the usual high yield, but he urged the government to raise paddy prices. Bachhir Mia of Chhoto Bahula village said he had seen no fertiliser shortage so far this season. Akbar Ali of the same village said low paddy prices leave farmers little profit and that more subsidy on fertiliser and diesel would help, though neither is in short supply locally; the fertile soil here gives two crops a year, he said.

Md Aktaruzzaman, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Habiganj, told BSS that about 88,000 hectares were planted last year and the area is rising this year; seedbeds are ample, there will be no seed problem, and there is no fertiliser shortage this Aman. Some transplanted Aman was damaged by brief flooding in parts of the district, he said, but those areas no longer have any problem.

Based on BSS's special report from Habiganj. Source: BSS