With waterlogging in low-lying areas eased by canal re-excavation and steady rainfall, transplanted aman plantings in the four districts of the Khulna region, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail, have exceeded their target. Farmers are hopeful as the crop grows well, and smallholders expect coarse aman paddy to fetch Tk 1,350 to Tk 1,400 a maund (40 kg) in local markets, Dinajpur TV reports.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension's Khulna region office, the target was 289,859 hectares; 290,010 hectares were planted, 151 hectares or 0.1 per cent more. The region aims to produce 856,974 tonnes of rice, or 1,285,461 tonnes of paddy. More than Tk 6 crore in incentives has already been given to 75,400 farmers.
By district, Khulna planted 87,469 hectares against a target of 88,351, aiming for 408,308 tonnes of paddy and 272,205 tonnes of rice. Bagerhat planted 68,706 hectares against 68,893, expecting 271,688 tonnes of paddy and 181,125 tonnes of rice.
Satkhira planted 90,160 hectares against a target of 89,150, with 398,780 tonnes of paddy and 265,853 tonnes of rice expected. Narail planted 43,675 hectares against 43,465 and is expected to produce 206,686 tonnes of paddy and 137,791 tonnes of rice.
Md Rafiqul Islam, additional director of the department in Khulna, said the government's canal re-excavation drive has ended waterlogging across wide low-lying coastal areas, and favourable weather and balanced rainfall have produced a better-than-expected crop. Farmers are busy tending the fields, and he expects them to get fair prices this season.
Photo: Masum Ibn Musa / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Dinajpur TV
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