Farmers in Mirsarai, Chattogram, are busy with Aman cultivation. Seedlings have already been planted on about half the target area, and with the rainy season drawing to a close, growers here are rushing to finish transplanting.

About 12,000 farmers are growing Aman in the upazila's 16 unions and two municipalities. The upazila agriculture office expects a good harvest if the weather stays favourable to the end.

According to the agriculture office, the Aman target for the upazila this year is 19,850 hectares. By 25 August about 11,290 hectares had been planted, and the office says planting will be completed within the next ten days. The production target for Aman this year is 95,280 tonnes. The largest areas have been planted in Ichhakhali, Karerhat, Durgapur and Mithanala unions.

Mosharraf Hossain, a farmer from Karerhat union, said: "This time I have grown Aman on four acres. It has cost about Tk 25,000. If the weather stays good, I expect a bumper crop."

Farmer Abul Hossain said: "Aman seedlings have been planted on three acres this time. The plants look healthy and I expect a good yield. But it costs much more now than before."

Farmer Fazle Rabbi said: "It has rained from the start this time, so we could plant seedlings on time. I will grow Aman on about two acres. Transplanting is almost done, with only a little left, which will be finished in a day or two."

Kazi Mohammad Nurul Alam, deputy assistant agriculture officer of the upazila, said: "The target this season is 19,850 hectares, and planting is complete on 11,290 hectares. We hope the rest will be finished within a week or ten days. On some land, transplanted Aman will be planted after the Aus harvest."

Upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "To overcome natural adversity and raise Aman production, many farmers have been given free seed, chemical fertiliser and weed-control support. If the weather holds, we can expect a good yield."

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