Boro cultivation may be delayed in 8 N districts
Cold wave, fog damage seedbeds
Boro seedlings on a seedbed in Gangachara upazila under Rangpur district get damaged under the impact of persistent cold wave accompanied by dense fog in the northern districts in the last couple of weeks. Photo: STAR
Boro cultivation in eight northern districts under Rangpur division is likely to be delayed in the current season as persistent cold wave coupled with dense fog during the last couple of weeks damaged a large portion of seedbeds prepared for the purpose. The seedlings meant for transplantation are turning yellowish due to the adverse weather, said farmers of different areas in the region. Spraying pesticides did not come of much help to save the seedbeds and boro production may be hampered due to scarcity of seedlings if the situation continues further, they said. "I raised boro seedlings on a 10-decimal land but half of the tender plants have already been damaged. If the remaining seedlings are spoilt I will not be able to cultivate boro this season," said Foroz Ali, 60, a farmer of Ikorchali village in Taraganj upazila under Rangpur district. "I procured quality boro seeds for high prices to prepare seedbeds on 25 decimals of land with the hope to get a good yield. But now I am frustrated due to the damage caused by weather," Helal Miah, a farmer of Talimganj village under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur, said. Boro cultivation as a whole will be delayed as many farmers will have to prepare fresh seedbeds and at least one month will be required for the seedlings to mature, farmers said. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), 38,706 hectares of land have been used for preparing boro seedbeds in eight districts of Rangpur division in the current season but about 25 to 30 per cent seedbeds have been affected by intense cold wave and dense fog. The DAE has set a target to bring 7,74,130 hectares of land under boro cultivation in Rangpur division during the current season but the target may not be achieved due to the adverse weather condition, officials said. "Cold wave usually hits Rangpur division in mid January when the boro plants become mature. But this year it hit earlier, causing damage to immature boro plants," said Md Golam Subhani, deputy director of the DAE. "BRRI dhan-28 and 29 are most popular varieties in the area for boro cultivation but they dot have cold tolerant characteristics. And so, the seedbeds are getting damaged," he said. DAE officials are suggesting the farmers to irrigate the boro seedbeds properly and mix cow dung with the irrigated water so that the soil temperature remains high. They also suggested covering the seedbeds with polythene to save them from cold and fog.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments