Ripe golden paddy sways in the cool breeze across the fields, and its scent has lifted farmers' spirits. They are busy in the fields, while farm women clean their courtyards to receive the new paddy. There is a festive mood among farming families, as if an "aman festival" has begun in Manikganj district.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), two kinds of aman are grown in the district: ropa (transplanted) aman and bona (broadcast) aman. In 2024-25, ropa aman was grown on 12,038 hectares in the seven upazilas, producing 45,827 tonnes. Bona aman was grown on 19,691 hectares, producing 18,630 tonnes.

This year ropa aman has been grown on 13,208 hectares, with a production target of 50,283 tonnes. Bona aman has been grown on 18,500 hectares, with a target of 17,372 tonnes.

Ratan Dewan, a farmer in Nali union, told Jago News: "This year I was very worried about water. But by Allah's grace it rained at the right time, so the yield is good. I hope to make some profit. This time is a festival for us; we call it the aman festival."

Anwar Hossain has come from Kurigram to Manikganj to harvest paddy. He told Jago News: "We come to Manikganj every year at this time to cut paddy. This year six of us have come from our area. Besides three meals a day, the wage has been set at Tk 720 a day."

Sattar Bepari, a farmer in Nabagram union, told Jago News: "One bigha usually yields 7 to 8 maunds of aman paddy. But some varieties, such as Depu, yield a bit more, up to 10 to 12 maunds per bigha."

Shahjahan Siraj, deputy director of the Manikganj DAE, told Jago News: "With the advice of agriculture officers and enough rain at the right time, the aman yield is quite good this year. Farmers will make a good profit. The area under aman has also increased compared with last year. We hope the target will be exceeded."

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