More than 10,000 farmers in Gumai Beel of Rangunia upazila are hoping for a bumper Aman harvest this season as the wide paddy fields turn bright green. This season the national cultivation target was set at 15,320 hectares and about 3,450 hectares in Gumai Beel were planted with improved varieties like BRRI dhan-49, 51, 52, 75, 103, Katari and White Paijam, and those fields are now growing well. Officials report that the seedlings were transplanted two and a half months ago and most fields should be ready to harvest within one to one and a half months, while short duration types such as BRRI dhan-75 and 103 and some hybrid varieties could be ready in about twenty days. Last year farmers in the area recorded average yields around 5.8 metric tons per hectare for high yielding varieties and about 3.8 metric tons per hectare for local types, so many growers hope to match or beat those results this time. Local farmers invested carefully: one grower, Faridul Islam, has planted Aman on 120 kani (about 20.5 hectares) and said he spent about Tk 20,000 per kani from planting to now, with extra daily costs for workers of roughly Tk 800 to Tk 1,000 per kani; another farmer, Md Obaidullah, said he has spent about Tk 55,000 per hectare so far on a five hectare plot and expects the full cost per hectare to rise to near Tk 90,000 by harvest. Officials and extension workers add that government support helped supply quality seed and fertilizer and that close field supervision stopped major pests and saved crops from flood damage that hit some past seasons. The Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer, Uttam Kumar Das, and the Upazila Agriculture Officer, Imrul Kayes, said there were no serious natural calamities this season, pests are under control through regular checks, and farmers are using eco friendly methods such as placing wooden poles to attract insect eating birds, using light traps on set evenings and applying balanced fertilizer and row planting for better crop health. Farmers are also using online platforms and mobile apps for timely advice and market news, which helped them plan inputs and sales. Community monitoring, simple pest control and steady technical support have made many growers feel confident, and traders say better prices for paddy this year encouraged more planting. If weather stays kind and careful farming continues, Gumai Beel could see one of its best Aman yields in recent years, bringing good income to families and stronger food supplies for the region, while officials note that keeping close supervision and helping farmers reach markets will be important to turn healthy fields into fair returns for growers, and sustain small farms and local markets.
