Farmers in six districts under Barisal division have again broken their previous record by producing more paddy of Aush, Aman and Boro varieties than last year.

Agricultural experts are happy with the progress of food production in the southern region over the past four years, despite the recurrence of extreme weather conditions, including salinity, excess rains and lack of rains, and storms.

They appreciated the coordinated efforts of farmers and agriculture officials, the expansion of new technologies, and increased government facilities and incentives for the remarkable progress.

The six districts of Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna, Jhalakathi, Bhola and Barisal have produced more crops than the target this year, according to the divisional office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). 

“Due to favorable weather conditions, no field of Aman paddy was damaged this year, and there was not much insect infestation. I can earn good money if the entire paddy can be sold in the market,” said Hossen Ali, a farmer of Wazirpur Upazila of Barisal.

DAE divisional acting additional director Harun-Or Rashid said that the old fame of Barisal region as the “granary of Bengal” has begun to return. The production of rice and other crops in the region has been increasing for the last three consecutive years.

According to the DAE, farmers in Barisal division produced about 2.7 million tons of Aman, Aush and Boro rice in the 2018-19 financial year. 

The following year, despite heavy losses in Aman cultivation due to continuous storms and floods, production increased by 100,000 tons.

The production reached a whopping 3.22 million tons in fiscal year 2020-21.

According to primary estimates, the production of Aman in the division was 1.8 million tons, Aush 655,615 tons and Boro 714,580 tons in the current season.