Farmers in Manikganj district have planted aman rice, but with no water coming during the monsoon, they are worried about the yield. Compared with last season, they fear heavy losses on aman this year.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), two kinds of aman are grown in the district: transplanted aman and broadcast aman. In 2023-24, transplanted aman was grown on 10,899 hectares in the seven upazilas, producing 41,835 tonnes. Broadcast aman covered 25,510 hectares and produced 25,216 tonnes.

In 2024-25, transplanted aman covered 12,038 hectares and produced 45,827 tonnes, while broadcast aman covered 19,691 hectares and produced 18,630 tonnes.

In the current 2025-26 year, broadcast aman has been grown on 18,561 hectares with a production target of 17,575 tonnes. Transplanted aman covers 13,208 hectares with a target of 50,283 tonnes.

Ratan Dewan, a farmer in Nali union, told Jago News: "Last year the aman yield was good. This year there is no water in the fields even in the full monsoon. If water does not come to the fields, the yield will not be good. If there is no water under the rice plants, drought or sun will turn the leaves yellow and the plants will die. When the panicles come out, the plants need a lot of moisture. If there is no water at the base then, the panicles will not emerge fully. So water is very necessary for aman."

Milon Mia, a farmer of Nabagram, said: "Aman gives a good yield only when there is water under the plants. The nature of aman is that the plant grows as the water rises, floating above it. But this year the water did not come even in the full monsoon. Now it is raining steadily, so the aman leaves look green. If there are several dry days in a row after the rain, the plants will die."

Majlis Mia, a farmer of Ubhajani village, said: "Last year, by Allah's grace, I got a good aman crop. This year I have grown aman on 4 bighas. The water did not come in the monsoon. We are very worried about what will happen to the aman."

Shahjahan Siraj, deputy director of the Manikganj DAE, told Jago News: "The aman is now at the tillering stage. What farmers are worried about is that there will be no rain when the panicles emerge. If it does not rain then, we will arrange irrigation schemes for the aman. We hope the yield will be good."

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