Diphu: After the ground-breaking achievement with Sarna Masuri variety of rice paddy (3600 kg in one bigha) in parts of the Karbi Hills recently, another success story from the Agriculture department controlled by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has come to light.
Recently undertaking prospective cultivation on 300 acres of land in Rong-man-bong village, in the Taradubi general area, the department has produced Basmati aromatic rice under the brand name Khusboo. This top quality rice is totally organic. The agriculture department and the farmers are very pleased with the high production rate of this quality rice, which is grown mostly in northern India.
“Khusboo rice produced under the direct patronage of KAAC is pure organic and we ensured that the farmers use only organic manure like vermin compost and apply organic pesticide,” Mohesh Rajbonsi, the District Agriculture Officer said.
The progressive farmer Joyman Tisso harvested 6.00 tonnes of rice per hectare. In addition, Prodip Bey, a Bakula village farmer in the Dokmoka area of East Karbi Anglong, produced 5600 kg of Khusboo paddy per hectare.
The farmers are expecting better yields this season and the Agriculture department constantly provides technological support to the farmers for best utilization of their land. Besides providing the farmers with fertilizer and pesticide and best quality seeds, they also equip them with implements.
Pump sets have been made available to enable them to undertake cultivation in all seasons and weather. Also, power tillers and tractors have been made easily available to the farmers in many areas.
This 10432 square kilometer area produces close to 250,000 metric tonnes of rice annually.
“If the current growth rate continues, we will attain adequacy in production of both quantity and quality rice soon, but the success also depends considerably on the will of the growers,” Mongol Sing Timung executive member of KAAC in-charge of agriculture department said.
