Golden hues of ripe paddy now blanket the green hills of Bandarban as the Jum rice harvest season begins in full swing. Favorable weather conditions have led to a strong yield this year, turning the remote hill villages into vibrant scenes of harvest festivities. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), rice cultivation in the district has expanded by 920 hectares compared to last year.
For generations, Jum cultivation—also known as shifting cultivation—has been the traditional livelihood of the indigenous communities living in the hill tracts of Bandarban. Most residents of the remote hill areas rely on Jum farming for their sustenance.
In the upazilas of Rowangchhari, Ruma, Thanchi, Lama, and Alikadam, farmers cultivate Jum rice on steep and remote hillsides. The planting season begins in April, when fields are prepared and sown with local varieties such as Nirikkha, Ufshi, PD, Kokro, Bibirri, Gelong, and Kanbhui. After four months of care and maintenance, harvesting starts in September and continues through October. The harvested rice is stored by Jum farming families to meet their annual food needs.
Local farmers said that this year’s harvest has been particularly good. Many of them cultivated rice alongside turmeric and chili, which are often grown together on Jum fields.
Agricultural officials noted that variations in rainfall across the hilly terrain cause differences in yield from one area to another. Despite these disparities, overall production this season is expected to rise.
Toufiq Ahmed Nur, Additional Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bandarban, said, “The weather has been favorable this year, with adequate rainfall throughout the season. As a result, we are expecting a higher yield compared to last year.”
According to the DAE, paddy was cultivated on about 7,500 hectares of land in Bandarban last year. This year, the cultivated area has increased by nearly 1,000 hectares, marking a significant rise in Jum rice production across the district.
