News Flash
MEHERPUR, Nov 21, 2025 (BSS) - Aman paddy harvesting is keeping farmers busy across Meherpur and other rural areas.
A festive atmosphere has been created by the sight of golden paddy waves sweeping across the fields and smiles lighting up the faces of the farmers.
Breaking through the morning fog, farmers and labourers are descending upon the fields armed with sickles and paddy harvesting machinery.
In some areas, groups are harvesting paddy while enjoying music, gossip, and socializing. The simultaneous tasks of threshing, drying, and storing the paddies in the granary are also actively underway.
Farmers report satisfaction despite the hectic pace, as the weather this year has been largely favorable, leading to good yields. Cultivation of Ropa Aman exceeded the target area this season. The good yield was attributed to adequate rainfall and favorable weather conditions.
In Meherpur, Aman paddy was cultivated on 26,860 hectares of land this year. The production target has been set at 1,17,400 metric tons. The overall yield has been better compared to the previous year, and prices are also favorable.
Wholesale prices for paddy are currently ranging from Taka 1,100 to Taka 1,250 per maund. Based on these prices, the projected value of the produced paddy is Taka 32 crore.
For elderly villagers, the Aman harvesting season signifies more than just agricultural work-it is an integral festival of rural heritage. They consider this period the happiest time of the year, combining collaborative work, laughter, socializing, and the joy of bringing the harvest home.
The paddy harvesting days often serve as an occasion for family gatherings and the convergence of relatives.
Farmers are busy binding bundles of harvested paddy, loading them onto buffalo carts or engine-powered vehicles, and taking them for threshing.
Ayub Ali, a farmer from Jhaubaria village in Sadar Upazila, cultivated paddy on three bighas of land this year.
He noted that labour costs for cultivation, planting seedlings, and general care have increased. His expense per bigha was between Taka 12,000 and Taka 14,000, which is Taka 2,000 to Taka 3,000 higher than the previous year.
His yield was between 16 and 20 maunds per bigha. In addition to the paddy, rice straw is in high demand as livestock feed, selling for Taka 10,000 to Taka 11,000 per bigha.
Tarikul Islam, a farmer from Bhomordah village in Gangni Upazila, cultivated paddy on five bighas. He reported that his land did not require much irrigation this year. However, he was initially distressed by pest attacks but successfully saved his crop by spraying pesticides multiple times.
Sanjib Mridha, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Meherpur, confirmed that 26,860 hectares of land in the district were used for Aman paddy cultivation.
The production target is 1,17,400 metric tons. Based on the current market rate of Taka 1,200 per maund, the expected trade value of the paddy is Taka 32 crore.
Mridha confirmed that the yield was good due to favorable natural conditions.
