Amon Harvest Begins In CHT
Over 12,000 tonne less output feared
Amon yield in three hill districts of Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban may miss the target by 12,280 tonne as the recurrent floods damaged paddy fields on 4,634 hectares of land.
However, starting of Amon harvest in different areas in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) comprising the three districts has brought relief of poor jhumia people.
A total of 47,067 hectares of land was brought under Amon cultivation in CHT this year with a production target of 1.25 lakh tonnes of rice (in average 2.65 tonne per hectare), Agriculture Extension Department (AED) sources said.
In Khagrachhari, the production target in 26,355 hectares of land was 69,840.75 tonnes of rice but the recent floods damaged 3,490.05 tonnes of Amon paddy in 1,317 hectares of field in the district, Deputy Director of Khagrachhari AED TM Monjurul Islam said.
Deputy Director of Rangamati AED Mohammad Laichh Uddin said they had a production target of 27864.75 tonnes in 10515 hectares of land in the district but they fear the production will be less by 8790.05 tonnes as recent floods damaged Amon paddy in 3317 hectares.
Amon production in Bandarban district is quite well despite the damage caused by floods, the DD of Bandarban AED said.
Bandarban AED sub-assistant agriculture officer, Babotosh Chakrabarti, said they expect to get targetted 27825 tonnes of rice in 10,500 hectares of land.
Early verities of BRRI-33, BRRI-11 and BRRI-32 paddy, cultivated on most of the usable lands in the region, are being harvested now, AED sources said, adding that harvest in CHT region will complete within a few days.
There is not much chita (sterile paddy sheaf) this year, said farmers Auonsha Marma from Lakpaindang, Hashem Ali from Gachhabil under Manikchhari upazila in Khagrachhari district.
The Daily Star correspondent saw sale of huge quantities of rice in Manikchhari and Khagrachhari Sadar wholesale markets. The prices of rice varied between Tk 400 to 450 per mound (one mound = 40 kg). Farmers said the price rates are 'reasonable'.
Meanwhile, at least 1.5 lakh Amon farmers have been affected due to pest attack following floods that hit the area thrice while attack of rats also caused harm to paddy cultivated on hills.
Several farmers said they are even worried about repaying the loan that they took for cultivating Amon.
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