Dinajpur farmers smell success in aromatic rice

Thin aromatic rice is gaining popularity among farmers in Dinajpur with its high profit margin and low production cost.

Farmers in the area have been showing interest in cultivating the aromatic rice for the last few years, said officials at Dinajpur’s Department of Agricultural Extension .

The DAE officials said farmers have cultivated aromatic paddy in 90,000 hectares in the district and the BR-34 variety in 84,000 hectares.

DAE fixed a target of cultivating 273,790 hectares in 13 upazilas in the district while the farmers cultivated 259,033 hectares.

Local farmers told UNB that they used to cultivate BR-11, Payjam, Najirshail and other type of paddies and stored them for whole year but now they are cultivating aromatic thin rice for its high price and relatively low cost of cultivation.

Farmer Abdul Karim of Shaloki Boijjakuri village in Sadar upazila said he cultivated aromatic Jirashail rice in three acres and thick rice in one acre only.

Cultivating thick rice costs more while aromatic rice costs less but brings more profit, he added.

Farmer Mozammel Haque of Chuniapara under Sadar upazila, said “I’ve been cultivating aromatic rice in two acres for the last two years as it brings more profit than the other rice variety.”

Farmer Motahar of the same area said the price of aromatic rice remains high and stable around the year. Aromatic rice brings Tk 12,000 to Tk 16,000 profit per acre after meeting all costs for cultivation.

Local farmers also said they have already increased cultivating aromatic thin rice for more profit. Now they are cultivating this type of rice in 20-30 per cent land.

Md Touhidul Iqubal, deputy director of Dinajpur DAE, said cultivation of aromatic rice has increased in the last few years because of its high profit.

Farmers in Dinajpur Sadar Chirirbandar, Birol upazilas and some other areas are cultivating aromatic rice on 80 to 90 per cent land.

Farmers can produce four tonnes of rice in each hectare, he added.