BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, July 13, 2026 (BSS) – Farmers have begun transplanting Aman rice seedlings across the Rangpur agricultural region, encouraged by regular monsoon rains, favourable weather and good returns from the recent Boro harvest, with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) expecting the cultivation drive to gather full pace by the end of this month.

The government, through the DAE, has set a target of producing 20,05,028 tonnes of clean Aman rice (30,07,542 tonnes in terms of paddy) from 6,21,550 hectares of land in the five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari this season.

The target includes production of 16,70,070 tonnes of high-yielding variety (HYV) Aman rice from 5,24,520 hectares, 3,14,221 tonnes of hybrid Aman rice from 86,020 hectares and 20,737 tonnes of local Aman rice from 11,010 hectares of land.

Last season, farmers produced 20,00,614 tonnes of clean Aman rice in the region, compared to 18,88,538 tonnes from 6,16,299 hectares in the previous season.

As of Sunday, farmers had prepared seedbeds on 30,959 hectares of land against the required 30,401 hectares for the targeted cultivation.

“Meanwhile, enthusiastic farmers have already transplanted Aman rice seedlings on 1,790 hectares of land till Sunday,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Shirajul Islam told BSS today.

He said the transplantation programme would gain full momentum by the end of this month across the region.

Despite shrinking cultivable land and the adverse impacts of climate change, the government has taken special measures to expand cultivation of HYV and hybrid Aman varieties alongside ensuring balanced fertiliser use and adoption of modern technologies to boost rice production.

The DAE is also distributing quality Aman seeds and fertilisers free of cost among small and marginal farmers to support cultivation and increase production.

Besides, authorities have taken measures to raise seedlings of late-yielding Aman varieties in permanent seedbeds in highland areas and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas to prevent any shortage of seedlings during floods.

Like the previous season, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and farmers will keep irrigation pumps ready to facilitate timely transplantation if rainfall remains inadequate or drought-like conditions develop.

“Field-level officials of the DAE and other agriculture-related institutions are providing farmers with necessary support, training and modern technologies to make the intensive Aman cultivation programme successful,” Shirajul Islam added.

During a visit to different areas of Rangpur on Monday, this correspondent found farmers transplanting Aman seedlings and preparing croplands amid monsoon rains and favourable weather conditions.

Farmer Ishaq Ali of Kathihara village in Rangpur Sadar upazila and farmer Mofizar Rahman of Dolapara village in Taraganj upazila said they had completed land preparation and would begin transplanting Aman seedlings within the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, farmers Anwar Hossain, Nur Alam and Azizur Rahman of Mohipur village in Gangachara upazila were already busy transplanting Aman seedlings in their fields amid the ongoing monsoon rains.

Published Date: July 14, 2026