Golden rice swings on the green hills
October 3, 20242 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: The traditional farming method of hill communities of Chittagong Hill Tracts is 'Jumchash'. Jumchas, which have been traditionally practiced by the marginal hill Jumias since ancient times. And through this jumchasha, hilly small groups of different communities have been making a living. Jumias usually do jumchas every year.
Like every other time, this time also in the urge of life, the farmers have cultivated various crops including paddy, maize, kakan, turmeric, marfa in the hills. However, although some crops are raised throughout the year, now the season for jum paddy has come. As a result of which, the jumchas that have developed in the mountains are now full of ripe rice. The surroundings are filled with the sweet smell of ripe rice. Rice cutting festival has started in many places.
Jum farming is done in various hilly areas under Kaptai upazila of Rangamati district. Recently, going to some parts of Sitapahar and Rampahar adjacent to Wagga Union No. 5 of the upazila, it was seen that jumchasha ceremony is going on around the hill. Where the green hills are covered with the golden color of ripe paddy. Besides, a sweet smell of cooking has spread around.
When asked about jum farming, several farmers including local jum farmers Sinuching Marma, Hlalaching Marma said that they have been cultivating jum in the mountains for many years. Their families depend on this jumchasha . They also said that after the whole year of jum farming, now is the time to harvest at home.
But compared to last year, the yield has been better due to a little better rainfall this year. But referring to a problem, he said, earlier fertilizers were not used due to the fertility of the soil, but now fertilizers have to be applied. Because the fertility of the mountain soil is decreasing day by day.
Meanwhile, according to the sources of Kaptai Upazila Directorate of Agriculture, jum cultivation is done on about 100 hectares of land in various inaccessible hilly areas of 5 unions of Kaptai Upazila. In addition to rice, ginger, turmeric, marfa, pepper, kachu, sweet pumpkin, corn and other crops are cultivated.
In this regard, Kaptai Upazila Agriculture Officer agriculturist Imran Ahmed said, farmers from Kaptai Agriculture Division are encouraged to grow various mixed fruits and crops in addition to rice. However, although the farmers of Jum cultivate local varieties of rice, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute recommends planting rice seedlings of Bri-Dhan-87 variety. Apart from this, he said that there is good jum cultivation in the hills of several areas of Kaptai, but there is good jum cultivation in the hills of Chitmaram Union and Bangchari, Sitapahar areas.
