The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Production of Aman paddy, the main crop of the southern region, may cross target in 11 districts under Barisal Agricultural region including the Sidr affected districts.

Sufficient rain, fertilizer, loan and relief distributed in Sidr affected and surrounding region and farmers efforts to cover up the loss of cyclone cause the crossing of Aman cultivation targets in the region. If Aman cultivation in this season could survive from natural calamities like flood and cyclone, dense fog, cold spell, pest attack and diseases, then this region may be turned to food surplus area instead of food shortage region, said the officials of the Barisal Agriculture Extension Department.

AED Barisal region office sources said 1,31,40,000 metric tons rice production has been expected from 53.7 lakh hectares land cultivated by Aman paddy in 64 districts of Bangladesh in this season. Among that 16.45 lakh metric ton rice production expected from targeted 7.99 lakh hectares Aman Paddy cultivated lands in 11 districts under Barisal agricultural region this season. These 11 districts are Barisal, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna and Bhola of Barisal division Faridpur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Madaripur of Dhaka division. These districts included the vast areas suffered damages of 8.5 lakh metric tons crop production by cyclone Sidr in last Aman cultivation season.

However this season Aman paddy cultivated in 8,32,431 hectares, more (4% ) 30 thousand hectares land crossing the cultivation target and expecting 17.5 lakhs metric tons rice, about 0.95 lakhs tons more production from excess cultivation.

AED Barisal office sources said still tendency for cultivating local variety of Aman paddy existed among the farmers of this region.

So in six districts of Barisal division local varieties cultivated in 4,85,879 hectares while high yielding cultivated on 2,46,000 and hybrid cultivated on only 1,119 hectors of land. However in rest five districts of greater Faridpur region local variety of Aman cultivated on 15,986 hectares, high yielding on 83,367 hectares and hybrid only in 211 hectares of land.