Ears of transplanted aman rice are swaying in fields across Khulna, and the scent of golden paddy fills the air. Farmers have toiled hard to get this far, and the crop has brought smiles to their faces. But bad weather has begun to put lines of worry on their foreheads.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast heavy storms and rain this month, and that is adding to farmers' worries. Agriculture officials say the same: if no natural disaster strikes, the yield will be very good.

According to the agriculture department, in the 2021–22 financial year transplanted aman was grown on 93,316 hectares in Khulna metro and the district's nine upazilas, against a target set at 92,730 metric tonnes. Production is likely to exceed last year's.

By upazila, aman was planted on 3,890 hectares in Rupsha, 17,600 in Batiaghata, 1,920 in Dighalia, 15,950 in Dumuria, 17,253 in Paikgachha, 905 in Terokhada, 19,135 in Dacope, 14,720 in Koyra, 1,430 in Phultala, 67 in Daulatpur and 200 in Labanchara.

Last financial year transplanted aman was grown on 92,820 hectares in Khulna metro and the nine upazilas, against a target of 92,520 hectares.

Farmers Sheikh Sirajuddoula Linkon, Abdul Jabbar Sana and Sujit Bain of erosion-hit South Bedkashi in Koyra upazila, which has been battered repeatedly by natural disasters, said crops have grown well in Koyra since Aila. "But natural disasters never leave us. Before we can bring the crop home, some disaster or other strikes. This time too the aman crop is very good, but the weather office has forecast storms and rain, which has left farmers like us worried."

Md Hafizur Rahman, director of the agriculture department in Khulna, said the expected yield of transplanted aman is likely if there is no natural disaster. Rupsha upazila agriculture officer Md Fariduzzaman, an agriculturist, said a bumper crop is expected if the weather stays favourable.

Sub-assistant agriculture officers are working regularly with farmers in the field to protect crops from pests. Farmers are being advised to use light traps against brown planthopper (kaarent poka) attacks, and courtyard meetings are being held with them.

Terokhada upazila agriculture officer Md Shafiqul Islam, an agriculturist, said farmers have sown modern rice varieties, which yield well, and he expects a bumper aman crop if the weather is favourable. Courtyard meetings are held with farmers, and leaflets have been handed out urging them to use light traps against diseases and pests, especially brown planthopper. If the weather holds, he expects an average yield of six metric tonnes a hectare.

Dacope upazila agriculture officer Md Mehedi Hasan Khan, an agriculturist, said sub-assistant agriculture officers are working regularly in the field and farmers are being advised to use light traps against pests. He expects the anticipated yield if the weather is good.

Md Omar Ali Sheikh, a farmer from Bagmara village in Naihati union, Rupsha, said the aman yield is likely to be good if the weather holds. Another farmer, Md Khorshed Alam, said a good aman yield is expected this year. Md Ibrahim Sheikh of Ilaipur Dakshinpara said a bumper crop is likely if no natural disaster strikes. Farmers in other upazilas made similar comments.

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