After a long dry spell, recent rainfall brought relief to Aman paddy farmers across Rajshahi district, reducing irrigation costs and raising hopes for a strong harvest.
Farmers across Rajshahi district are celebrating after timely rainfall revived their Aman paddy fields during the crucial flowering period. The recent rains ended a prolonged dry spell that had threatened crops and increased irrigation expenses.
According to the weather office, Rajshahi recorded the highest rainfall of 99.4 millimeters this season. The moisture restored to the fields has significantly reduced the need for artificial irrigation, cutting costs for farmers.
Astan Ali, a farmer from Kharkhari area of Paba Upazila, expressed relief at the rainfall, noting that costs are reduced in both irrigation and pesticides. He hopes to match last year's yield of 20 maunds of paddy per bigha.
The Department of Agricultural Extension reports that 82,452 hectares of land have been brought under Aman paddy cultivation in Rajshahi district this season, with a production target of 3,14,336 metric tons. Since the beginning of the season, farmers have been busy with seedbed preparation, transplanting, fertilizer application, and crop care. The recent rainfall has strengthened their optimism for meeting this year's harvest targets.