Farmers in Patuakhali, a southern coastal district exposed to rough weather and climate change, have found new hope in this season's Aman after several bouts of rain and waterlogging. Anxiety over seedbeds has given way to transplanting in full swing. The agriculture department has set a target of 190,000 hectares and says that, weather permitting, it can be met and even exceeded.

In July and August, depressions, an active monsoon, continuous rain and tidal water flooded low-lying areas, damaging Aman seedbeds and summer vegetables; the Department of Agricultural Extension's preliminary estimate put the seedbed loss at about 170 hectares. In most areas, however, farmers carried on from backup seedbeds, and the early fears have largely passed.

Bellal Mira, 65, of Nazirpur union in Bauphal upazila, told BSS he has planted 80 kathas of Aman this year against 60 last year, when his seedbeds fell short. Fellow farmers Joynal Mira, Zakir Molla and Kuddus Molla of Kanakdia and Nazirpur unions said cheaper seedbeds let them plant more than last year and that the seedlings are already dark and dense before fertiliser has been applied. Shah Alam Howlader of Dashmina and Zakir Hossain of Mirzaganj are also hoping for a good crop.

Officials say agriculture in coastal Patuakhali is bound up with the weather — excess rain, tidal surges, depressions and tidal flooding pose a challenge every year — but improved seed, timely seedbeds, quick transplanting and the department's advice are building resilience. If conditions hold, they expect the district's fields to fill with Aman and this year's output to surpass all previous records.

Based on BSS's special report from Patuakhali. Source: BSS