Boro seedbeds getting damaged
Persistent chilling cold coupled with dense fog damages boro saplings, turning them yellowish, at many places in Lalmonirhat district. The photo was taken from Mogholhat village in Lalmonirhar Sadar upazila. Photo: STAR
Boro seedbeds in many areas of Lalmonirhat district are getting damaged under the impact of the ongoing cold wave and dense fog. Farmers said they have to sow seeds again to cultivate boro as seedlings on many seedbeds have turned yellowish due to cold and dense fog. They (farmers) are now worried about recovery of the production cost, especially against the backdrop of low market price of paddy. Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Nuruzzaman said boro seedbeds in some areas of the district are affected due to severe cold and fog but seedlings won't be damaged if the weather improves shortly. He advised the farmers to water seedbeds at night, cover them with polythene and use proper fertiliser to save seedlings from harmful effects of cold and fog. Azizar Rahman, a farmer at Tajpur village in Sadar upazila said, “I have to incur heavy loss as 21 days old seedlings on my 20 decimals of land got damaged.†Saber Ali, another farmer of the village, said boro seedlings on many seedbeds at the village have already turned yellowish for lack of sunlight. “It will not be possible on my part to cultivate boro this year if seedlings on my 15 decimals of land are completely damaged,†Saber added. Mofazzal Hossain Mofa, chairman of Rajpur Union Parishad under Lalmobnirhat Sadar upazila, said the boro farmers in his union are worried as severe cold coupled with dense fog are damaging their seedbeds. The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat has set a target of cultivating boro on 69,000 hectares of land, including high yielding varieties on 44,000 hectares, in five upazilas of the district.
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