Rangpur, July 30 (UNB) - Cultivable lands are shrinking fast with an increase in unplanned construction of dwelling houses and brick-fields on farmlands in Rangpur region, stoking fears of a food crisis in the region.

If the conversion of arable land continues at the current pace, production of Aman paddy and other crops will badly be affected in the near future.

As to the current season, the production of Aman will fall short of target in the region as the total land brought under the cultivation is 60,000 hectares less than that of the last year.

Farmers have brought a total of 1,024,068 hectares of land under Aman cultivation in eight districts in the region in the current season whereas Aman was cultivated on about 1,084,068 hectares of land in the last season.

Deputy Director of Rangpur Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Firoz Ahmed attributed the shortfall to occupying cultivable land for other purposes, including construction of dwelling house and brick kilns.

He said the region has been losing arable lands due to the use of farmlands for other purposes, resulting in a cut in cultivation target.

He, however, hoped that the growers after harvesting of jute will bring more lands under Aman cultivation.   

There are some 487 brick fields in the region and at least 10 acres of land were required for building each one, affecting agricultural production, said agronomists.

The brick fields were set up on the farmlands allegedly without taking permission from the Department of the Environment.

Of the total brick kilns, 108 are in Rangpur district, 41 in Kurigram, 32 in Nilphamari, 52 in Gaibandha, 22 in Lalmonirhat, 157 in Dinajpur, 50 in Thakurgaon and 25 in Panchagarh district.