Staff Reporter, Gaibandha/

At the beginning of the current planting season, farmers in Gaibandha are facing setbacks due to weather conditions. Seedlings are affected by drought during most of the planting period. Sometimes you get rain water. Despite such adversity, they are starting cultivation with the target of planting Aman saplings in about 1 lakh 27 thousand hectares of land.

On Friday (August 11), farmers were busy planting saplings across the vast fields of Gaibandhar 7 upazila. Some are planting dream saplings in muddy soil with rain water and others with machine irrigation.

According to the sources of Gaibandha Agricultural Extension Department, 1 lakh 29 thousand 699 hectares of land were cultivated in the last Aman season. A target of 1 lakh 27 thousand 460 hectares has been set this year. About 50 percent has been achieved so far. But at this time last year, 85 percent was achieved. Aman farming is being severely disrupted due to lack of water this year.

According to the locals, most of the people of Gaibandha are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. About 70 percent of the people of this district try to fulfill their basic needs directly and indirectly by bringing home agricultural crops.

Various types of crops including paddy, jute, bhutra and vegetables are produced here. Among these, the most profitable crop is ropa aman paddy. However, despite the fact that floods occur every year during the planting of Aman saplings, there has been no flood impact this year. So recently the farmers in the highlands have started planting Aman paddy seedlings in full swing. And after a few days, the farmers in the low-lying areas will also plant Aman saplings.