The wide fields of Nandigram upazila in Bogura are a sea of green. Waves of Aman paddy move in the autumn breeze, with green leaves and half-ripe ears rippling across the fields. Within a few days the ears will start forming milky grain, and some paddy has already begun to ripen. The farmers' hopes seem to sway on the ears of transplanted Aman.

A tour of different parts of the upazila found the cultivated land full of paddy ears. In some fields the ears are only now emerging, and some early varieties have started to ripen. Field after field glows with golden ears, and the sight is bringing joy to farmers.

Farmers are dreaming of bringing the swaying paddy home to fill empty granaries. Thanks to favourable weather, careful tending, and timely use of fertiliser and pesticide, both farmers and the agriculture department expect a bumper Aman yield.

Farmers Abdus Salam of Bijoy Ghat village and Ibrahim Ali of Fokpal village said they expect a bumper crop this year too. If there is no natural disaster, they will be able to bring home a better yield than in previous years.

Farmer Raju Ahmed said: "Fertiliser and pesticide have been applied to the paddy fields. From the look of the plants, the yield could be good this time. Early varieties will be cut in some fields from next week. But if the government gives a fair price, farmers will profit. Then our dream will come true."

Gaziul Haque, the Nandigram upazila agriculture officer, said: "We are working in the field with the aim of a bumper yield and higher production of transplanted Aman. The crop has done well, so we expect a bumper Aman harvest. This year Aman has been grown on 19,420 hectares in the upazila."

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