Uddyog, a local NGO, in cooperation with IC-Leaf Project has taken up a programme side by side with the government to motivate the farmers to cultivate short duration BRRI-Dhan 33 in Gaibandha during the current T-aman season to eradicate monga (feminine-like situation). Under this programme, special measures have been taken to ensure timely supply of seed of BRRI Dhan 33, fertiliser and pesticides including other inputs to the farmers, sources said. As a part of the programme, seed distribution has already been started among the farmers on June 10. Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service, a reputed NGO, is providing the seed at a fair price. Upazila nirbahi officer of Sadullapur M Farid Ahammad formally inaugurated the seed distribution programme in the upazila on Tuesday as chief guest. Presided over by M Zillur Rahman Khandaker, executive director of Uddyog, the inaugural function was also addressed, among others, by president of Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shajada Anowarul quadir, agriculture extension officer Abdus Sattar, representative of RDRS Nuruzzaman Miah, farmer Sada Miah and journalist Tajul Islam. The speakers in the function said newly invented short term paddy farming technology by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute could also increase overall crop production with less cost and reduce risk of natural calamities during cultivation period. M Zillur Rahman, executive director of Uddyog, in his speech said four metric tons of seed of BRRI Dhan-33 would be sold among the farmers to cultivate 800 bighas of land of Sadullapur, Sundarganj and Sadar upazilas of the district during the current Aman season. Talking to the BSS Dr Abdul Majid, Principal Scientific officer of BRRI, Rangpur Station, said the BRRI Dhan-33 could be harvested in only 115 to 118 days from the sowing of seed and about 40 to 60 days ahead of the normal harvesting period of T-aman paddy. The harvesting of the paddy could create job opportunities for the jobless day labourers during the monga period of Aswin and Kartik months of Bangla year in poverty prone greater Rangpur district including Gaibandha, he also said. Just after harvesting the BRRI Dhan-33 the farmers could also cultivate early variety vegetables including potato, mug dal, tomato, onion, garlic, maize, wheat and mustard to get maximum yield and prices, he further added. In order to expand the farming of SBRRI Dhan-33 and to popularize it among the farmers, Department of Agricultural Extension has also taken up a massive plan to cultivate 4000 hectares of high and medium high land of seven upazilas in the district during the current season, said deputy director of DAE ANM Mizanur Rahman Amin. BADC has been given responsibility to sell quality seed of BRRI Dhan-33 to the farmers in the district to make the programme a success, he also said. Various demonstration plots would be set up to motivate the farmers to cultivate it, he further said.