The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

The target of Aman production is unlikely to be achieved this year as the recent flood affected 1.56 lakh hectares of Aman seedbeds in 23 districts, according to Agriculture Ministry sources.

The government targeted 53 lakh hectares of land for the production of 136.59 lakh tonnes of Aman Paddy. Of the total target 40,85,092 hectares were for the high yield variety of paddy and 11,58,138 hectares for local variety. Total of 52,43,230 hectares of land have already been brought under cultivation.

"We have already achieved 97.64 per cent target of Aman cultivation. But, the recent flood inundated 1.56 lakh hectares of Aman land in 23 districts. So, it will not possible to achieve our Aman target this year," a senior official of the Agriculture Ministry said.

A total of 1,51,099 hectares land with transplanted Aman, 2,364 hectares with B-Aman and 2,088 hectares Aman seedbeds were submerged in 23 districts across the country, sources said.

This year's flood severely affected Aman crops in Kurigram, Sylhet, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Mymenshingh and Bogura, sources in DAE said.

Director General of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) M Shamsul Islam told the New Nation that we have only 15 days in hand to prepare our Aman seedbeds in affected district.

"It is impossible to prepare the seedbeds by farmers within 15 days in the affected districts. So, the DAE will take preparation to distribute cash subsidy and fertiliser among the affected farmers for cultivating their next crops," he said.

"Aman seedbed can survive seven days under water. But, this time this crop remained with under water for 10 days in the flood-hit areas," another official of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) told the New Nation.

Abdul Mazid Biswas, director of Field Service Wing at DAE, told the New Nation that the DAE prepared 100 hectares land of Aman seedbeds for distribution of seeds among the flood-hit farmers.