Harvesting of Aman paddy is going on full swing in the chars of the district and farmers are very happy at getting good production this year.

Char farmers harvest Aman in early November, while harvesting will start in the last week of November in the mainland.

Azizar Rahman, 65, a farmer of Teesta river's Char Paruliya in Hatibandha upazila, said they cultivate Aman after the floodwater recedes and get good production if there is no unexpected flood. "We are happy at getting bumper production of Aman as there was no flood this year," he said, adding that he cultivated Aman on

four acres of land.

"It is profitable to cultivate Swarna variety of Aman in char lands as it gives high yield, and char farmers are familiar with this variety,” said Nasar Baksh, 67, of the same char. "The yield of Aman per bigha in the chars last year was 10 maunds to 12 maunds, while it is 15 maunds to 16 maunds this year," he added.

Shamsul Islam, 55, of Teesta river's Dawabari char in the same upazila, said they have been farming paddy in the char lands for the last six years. Before that, the char lands were unused, and groundnut and some spices were grown sometimes, he said. "Aman farming in the char land gives

us food support round the year and we are dependent on this crop," he said.

“After harvesting Aman, we will prepare our char lands for farming maize in the current month," said Nur Islam, 45, of the same char, adding that they do not grow Boro paddy in the char lands due to irrigation water shortage. "If we can find a way to arrange sufficient irrigation water, we will try to cultivate Boro paddy in future," he said.

Delowar Hossain, 68, of Teesta river's Char Sholmari in Kaliganj upazila, said most char farmers are cultivating Aman paddy in their lands as the production cost is low. "Some years ago, we used to believe that paddy farming in the char

lands was impossible, but that has changed and char farmers prepare their lands better for farming paddy. We will get bumper production of Aman this year due to good seed and favourable weather," he said, adding that char farmers will cultivate Aman paddy on a large scale next year.

Lalmonirhat Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director Bidhubhushon Roy told this correspondent that cultivating paddy in the char lands provides additional food support for the farmers. Char farmers do not keep their lands idle now, and use them for farming crops, especially paddy and maize, he said.