Hundreds of farmers of remote Ganna union under Jhenaidah sadar upazila were excited to cultivate low cost Aus paddy variety utilizing the natural rain water as against costly deep tube well water in the current Aus season to make the farming more profitable and environment-friendly. The natural rain water is widely known to the local farmers as “Akasher Pani”.
Altaf Hossain, better known as Altu Mia, a renowned farmer of the district, who received best prize for producing environment-friendly vegetables form the Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina, has been leading this new initiative of farmers to make their farming more profitable.
A number of farmers at village Ganna, Khamarail, Betai and Dohijuri said they have brought double land than the past year under Aus farming as led by farmers’ leader Altaf Hossain alias Altu Mia. When contacted, the devoted organic farmer Altu Mia at an Aus plot at Ganna village, said the climate went in disfavour of the nature due to excessive underground water uplift and otherwise misuses. It has been also affecting the bio-diversity faster when the farmers have been increasing the application of more and more chemical fertilizers and pesticides for better yield and production from the same cropland every year.
Altu Mia said the farmers will produce their Aus applying rain water in the monsoon. They also might preserve rainwater on the croplands as it does not contain excessive iron and acidity which is harmful from the crops. It will also reduce the fertilizer demand of the soil. He said the farmers of Ganna and betai blocks are going to cultivate Aus paddy on over 100 hectares in the season as against last season’s 40 hectares.
Sub assistant agriculture officer (SAAO) of the department of agriculture extension (DAE) at Ganna block Khalilur Rahman when contacted, said the farmers are going to producer Aus on about double area of land when Altu Mia was leading them to utilize Akasher pani (natural rain water).
