Torrential Rain, Storms for Three Days
Farmers cutting unripe boro in Gaibandha to avoid further loss
Farmers cutting immature boro paddy at Goderhat village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila as hailstorms during the last three days damaged the standing crops only a few days before its ripening.Photo: STAR
Farmers of Gaibandha district are worried about harvest as torrential rain accompanied by hailstorm lashed vast tract of boro fields during the last three days. During a visit to Kamajani union in Gaibandha Sadar upazila, this correspondent saw many farmers cutting unripe boro crops in the low lying fields, already ravaged by hailstorm and rainwater. "We are worried as the sky remains overcast with clouds and torrential wind blows every now and then," said Fazlu Mia, a marginal farmer of village Uttar Gideri. "I have cultivated boro on two bighas of land, but sudden hailstorm damaged the crops, only ten days ahead of harvesting," said farmer Saidur Rahman of Hatiya. Boro plants on the low-lying areas, especially marshy lands, are now nearly submerged by rainwater, said farmer Lal Mia. Farmers in many places have started harvesting early variety of boro, but the prospect of late variety crop is uncertain as it will take 15 days more to harvest it, said Amzad Hossain, a farmer of Boali village in Sadar upazila. "The nor'wester accompanied by hailstorm affected 3,425 farmers in five unions. Due to damage of crop on 615.15 hectares of land the production will decrease by 1,882 tonnes. This season a total of 18,500 hectares of land have been brought under boro cultivation in Sadar upazila against the production target of 72,000 tonnes," said Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mozaffar Ahmed.
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