Aman yield 5 lakh tonnes short of target in Barisal agricultural zone

Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Barisal, said the production shortfall was due to floods and late sowing. But some farmers this correspondent talked to said the production could be higher had the government supplied seeds and taken other post-flood rehabilitation measures in time.

Abdul Bari, Regional Director of DAE declined to make any comment.

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The district wise estimated production is 1,03,tonnes in Barisal, 40,470 in Pirojpur, 900 in Jhalakati, 1,08,590 in Bhola, 1,07,665 in Patuakhali, 55,300 in Barguna, 37,430 in Rajbari, 17,800 in Faidpur, 5,400 in Gopalganj, 5,300 in Madaripur and 6,650 in Shariatpur, DAE sources here said.

The farmers alleged that most of the field level DAE staff in different areas did not take up rehabilitation programmes in their areas in time. The most serious problem was scarcity of seedlings. Local DAE staff should been prepared seedbeds in time on high lands for supply of seedlings. But they did not do that, the farmers claimed.

Sources said the DAE should not go all out to offset the Aman shortfall by increasing the production of ARRI-Boro in the current season.

Barisal is considered as a rice bowl in the country and any shortfall also affects supplies in other regions.