Aus paddy production in Mirsarai, Chattogram, has exceeded its target this season. Farmers are smiling at both a good yield and a good price, and their interest in Aus is growing by the day, though they say cultivation costs more than before.

• Aus grown on 5,500 hectares in the upazila
• 28,018 tonnes of paddy produced
• 18,679 tonnes of rice produced

According to the Mirsarai upazila agriculture office, Aus was grown on 5,500 hectares this season across the upazila's 16 unions and two municipalities. The production target was 24,640 tonnes, and 28,018 tonnes of paddy were produced, 3,378 tonnes more than the target. The rice target was 16,440 tonnes, and 18,679 tonnes were produced, 2,039 tonnes above target. Cultivation was highest in Saherkhali, Maghadia, Ichhakhali, Durgapur and Zorarganj unions.

Local sources said many farmers, especially in the char areas, still grow local and improved varieties as in the past, including Kajal Ail, Chinal, Bhinnatoa, Dhalbachai, Bailam, Ashwini, Nazir Ail, Badhoi, Holoi, Batui, Jiis and Paijam. But mostly hybrid and high-yielding (HYV) varieties were grown.

For a long time farmers in the upazila sowed local varieties in the Aus season. Because these yielded very little, farmers were losing interest in Aus. The upazila agriculture office hopes this season's bumper yield will greatly encourage Aus cultivation.

Dilip Chandra Nath, a farmer from Tinghoria in Maghadia union, grew Aus on about 2 acres this time. "This time I grew Aus on two acres. With favourable weather, the yield has been very good. Whenever help is sought from the agriculture office, immediate support is given," he said.

Sajjad Hossain Arman, a farmer from Muraripur village in Durgapur union, said: "This time I grew Aus on two and a half acres. With fertiliser, seed and pesticide prices high, production costs have risen. The yield has been good, and so far the market price for paddy is good too."

Pratap Chandra Roy, the Mirsarai upazila agriculture officer, said: "For several years the government has encouraged and helped farmers with various incentives, seed and fertiliser. As a result farmers have grown hybrid and HYV paddy and got good yields. That is why paddy and rice production has exceeded the targets."

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