Transplantation of Parija rice continues in Rangpur division

The farmers have been continuing transplantation of the off-season indigenous Parija rice seedling in full swing everywhere in Rangpur division to complete the process by this month-end, local sources said.

Like in the previous years since 2009, RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, has taken an extensive programme for cultivation of the eco-friendly and short duration variety Parija rice on 1,260 bigha lands this season.

Earlier, the NGO distributed 6,300 kg Parija rice seed among 1,260 new beneficiary farmers under its Core and Krishi Gobeshona Foundation-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University (KGF-BSMRAU) supported crop intensification projects.

The European Union (EU) and Dan Church Aid (DCA) have been extending financial assistance in implementing the project under the Improving food security governance project.

The beneficiary framers have already prepared seedbed in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur and Panchagarh districts under the division.

Talking to BSS, Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the farmers have been transplanting Parija rice seedling in full swing now to complete the process by this month.

Under the programme, 900 farmers are cultivating the rice adopting the early Aman rice-mustard /potato-mungbean-parija cropping pattern evolved by RDRS Bangladesh while 360 others using Aman-wheat/tobacco/rabi maize-parija cropping pattern this time.

"We have taken an expanded programme for Parija rice farming as Aus crop during pre-monsoon period a part of our efforts to adapt with climate change impacts through keeping agri-productions increasing," Mamun said.

"Each of the beneficiary farmers is cultivating Parija rice on one bigha land using the latest technologies and supplied five kilogram rice seed by RDRS Bangladesh along with necessary training and supports," he added.

Knowledge Management and Communication Specialist of Climate Resilient Agriculture and Food Security Project of World Bank Dr MG Neogi said Parija rice farming requires no supplementary irrigation as its plants grow well making best use of unused seasonal rain waters during May, June and July.

"The crop can be cultivated during the off season between late May and mid-August when fields remain fallow after Boro harvest and before plantation of T-Aman seedling," he said.

Professor Md Moynul Haque of the Department of Agronomy of BSMRAU said there are 35 lakh hectares suitable land in Bangladesh for farming Parija rice to produce additional 90 lakh tonnes of the cereal crop annually in ensuring national food security despite climate change impacts.

"Parija rice can be harvested in only 75 days with 3.5 tonnes average yield rate per hectare by mid-August without facing floods to transplant Aman seedling timely for enhancing rice production on the same land," he said.

The project beneficiary farmers Shamsul Haque, Abu Bakkar and Abdus Sattar of Gaibandha and Shahidul Islam, Jiban Chandra and Brojen Chandra of Nilphamari said they have already completed transplantation of Parija rice seedling.

Source: BSS.