• Aman planted on 19,850 hectares
• 75 hectares more than the target
• Production target set at 95,280 tonnes

Green leaves and golden ears are rippling across the Aman fields of Mirsarai upazila's 16 unions and two municipalities in Chattogram, and the farmers' hopes sway with them. In a few days the green plants will turn yellow and be ready for harvest. Farmers will be busy cutting and threshing, and empty granaries will fill with golden paddy.

According to the Mirsarai agriculture office, the Aman target this season was 19,775 hectares. Although rain did not come on time, the target was exceeded, with Aman grown on 19,850 hectares. Aman was grown in Karerhat, Hinguli, Zorarganj, Osmanpur, Ichhakhali, Katachhara, Durgapur, Mirsarai Sadar, Mithanala, Maghadia, Khaiyachhara, Mayani, Haitkandi, Wahedpur and Saherkhali unions. The largest area, 950 hectares, was in Ichhakhali union.

Across the area, most fields are a sea of green. Farmers are tending their plants, applying fertiliser and pesticide, clearing weeds and using perching to limit losses. Many sit at the edges of their fields keeping watch.

Mokarram Hossain of Moddhyam Azamnagar village in Hinguli union said: "This time I have grown Aman on about one and a half kani (180 decimals). It is not ready to cut yet; the paddy on 20 decimals is ripening. From what I see, if no disaster strikes, the yield will be good."

Anwar Hossain of Charsharat in Ichhakhali union said: "I have grown Aman on about 120 decimals. Transplanting was delayed because of the rain, and I was worried about getting the seedlings in. But the crop is in good shape, and I hope for a good yield."

Sirajul Islam of Moddhyam Wahedpur in Wahedpur union said: "Rice farming does not pay like it used to. The prices of fertiliser, pesticide and every other input have risen, and labour costs more than before. If I can sell at a good price it will cover the costs; otherwise there will be no profit."

Upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy told Jago News: "If water had been available at the right time, it would have been possible to cultivate even more land. Across the upazila, high-yielding varieties have been grown on 16,800 hectares, hybrids on 2,000 hectares and local varieties on 1,050 hectares. The crop is in very good condition. If the weather stays favourable, the target will be met."

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