Aman grown on 100 hectares more than target, Jhenaidah farmers hope for good yield
Photo: Collected
Waves of green paddy now sweep across the fields of Jhenaidah. Aman cultivation in the district has exceeded its target this season. In some fields, early varieties have already begun to ripen. With favourable weather and little disease, farmers are hoping for good production and yields. In village after village, households are already getting ready to bring in the new crop.
District agriculture officials say farmers could get the yield they hope for if the weather stays good over the next few weeks. The district agriculture department is regularly monitoring and advising marginal farmers to ensure pest and disease control and proper care of the crop.
According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension, the initial target for this Aman season was set at 104,500 hectares. Owing to farmers’ interest, Aman was planted on an additional 100 hectares, bringing the total area under cultivation to 104,600 hectares.
By upazila, paddy of various varieties has been grown on 25,252 hectares in Sadar upazila, 18,734 hectares in Kaliganj, 24,945 in Shailkupa, 11,232 in Harinakunda, 6,182 hectares in Kotchandpur and 18,155 hectares in Maheshpur. The largest Aman acreage is in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila, at 25,252 hectares.
Mizanur Rahman of Ramnagar village in Sadar upazila told BSS the weather was favourable during Aman planting this year. With timely care, pest and disease attacks on the crop were also very low. As there was no excessive rain or major natural disaster, the plants stayed normal and healthy. Farmers are therefore expecting a good yield this season.
Amjad Hossain, a farmer of Bhabanipur village, said final-stage care of the crop is now under way in the fields. Paddy on some land has already been harvested, and harvesting will begin in all fields in a few more weeks. He hopes that, with good cultivation this year, the yield will be good too.
According to Laltu Mia, a farmer of Singa village in Harinakunda, the yield looks set to be good. Unless a sudden storm or gusty wind hits at the last moment, the risk of crop damage is low.
Md Kamruzzaman, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension, said field workers and officials had stood by farmers from the start of the season. The weather was good this Aman season and fertiliser supply was adequate. All in all, they expect farmers to get a bumper Aman yield this time. In his words, Jhenaidah’s paddy will be able to meet local food demand and also contribute to meeting the country’s overall demand.
By the numbers
According to the district agriculture department, in the 2022 Aman season Jhenaidah cultivated 103,155 hectares against a target of 104,750 hectares, Jagonews24 reported on 1 September 2022.
According to a report in The Financial Express on 30 November 2011, the Aman target that year in Jhenaidah’s six upazilas was 92,200 hectares.
District angle
In the 2022 Aman season, drought cracked Aman fields in Jhenaidah and raised fears of crop failure, Jagonews24 reported on 1 September 2022.
In this year’s Boro season, about 90,291 hectares were cultivated in the district against a target of 90,280 hectares, BSS reported on 2 May.
Sources
Original report: BSS
Background sources: Jagonews24, 1 September 2022; The Financial Express, 30 November 2011; BSS (separate report), 2 May 2026
