Boro Cultivation Across Country
Damage of seedbeds, diesel price hike may cut target
A farmer vainly trying to protect seedlings from harmful effects of cold and dense fog by spraying pesticides on his boro seedbeds at Omorpur village in Nandigram upazila of Bogra.Photo: STAR
Massive damage of seedbeds due to persistent cold wave coupled with increased irrigation cost following price rise of diesel seems to affect boro cultivation in different districts across the country this season. Severe cold accompanied by dense fog persisting for unusually long period is likely to hamper boro cultivation in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions in the current season, reports our Rangpur correspondent. Boro seedlings on large areas of land in all 16 districts under the two divisions are getting damaged under the impact of the adverse weather, much to the worry of farmers. About 30 percent seedbeds have been already affected by the severe cold wave and dense fog, DAE sources said, adding that the production target may be hampered due to the situation. "I cultivated boro seedlings on five decimals of land but the saplings on three decimal have already have damaged," said Shajahan Mian, 54, a farmer of Machari village of Kaunia upazila in Rangpur district. Overall boro cultivation will be delayed as many farmers will have to prepare fresh seedbeds and around a month is required for maturity of the seedlings, farmers said. Horkumar Mohanta, a farmer of Joyrampur-Anwar village under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district, said he had procured quality boro seeds at high prices for preparing seedbeds on 10 decimals of land but all his hopes are now nipped in the bud due to damage of the seedlings. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), there was target to bring 7,60,366 hectares of land in Rangpur division and 8,50,652 hectares in Rajshahi division under boro cultivation this year. Accordingly, seedbeds were prepared on 38,706 hectares of land in Rangpur and 42,294 hectares in Rajshahi division. "Usually the cold wave hits Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions in mid January when the boro plants become mature but this year it hit earlier, causing damage to immature plants," said Md Golum Subhani, deputy director of DAE. "BRRI Dhan-28 and Dhan-29 are most popular rice varieties among the boro farmers but these are not cold tolerant. So the seedbeds are being damaged," he added. 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 wave and dense fog. Our Narail correspondent reports: Rise in irrigation cost due to the price hike of diesel has added to the worry of boro farmers, already affected by massive damage of seedbeds by the ongoing cold wave and dense fog during this cultivation season. As the higher cost of irrigation by diesel-run pumps will rise the overall production cost, many farmers are now anxious about recovery of their investment, especially against the backdrop of low market price of paddy. Several farmers said they have to sow seeds for the second time to cultivate boro as seedlings on many seedbeds have turned yellowish due to the cold and dense fog. Razzak Mollah, a farmer at Boro village in Kalia upazila of Narail district, said 20-day-old seedlings on his 30 decimals of land got damaged due to the unfavourable weather. Several traditional boro farmers said they are now thinking of cultivating vegetables and crops other than paddy on their lands due to the situation. The DAE in Narail has set a target of cultivating boro on 43,471 hectares of land in three upazilas of the district. Ashok Halder, district training officer of DAE in Narail, said 'cold injuries' in boro seedbeds and increase of diesel price will have some effect on boro cultivation this season. Our Lalmonirhat correspondent adds: Irrigation dependent boro paddy cultivation may face obstacle in the district this season due to the recent price rise of diesel. “I prepared seedbeds on 25 decimals of land to cultivate boro paddy on 20 bighas of land at my village Kulaghat in Lalmonirhat Sadar this season. But as diesel price increased, I have decided to cultivate boro on five bighas of land to meet family requirement. I will cultivate the remaining land for other crops that do not need much irrigation,†said Abdul Gofur, general secretary of a farmers' association in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. "Like me, many farmers will be discouraged to cultivate paddy if the government does not withdraw the decision of diesel price rise," he added. DAE in Lalmonirhat has set target of boro cultivation on 85,320 hectares of land in five upazilas of the district in the current season. UNB adds from Netrakona: The district famous for rice cultivation may not achieve the target of boro yield this season due to damage of seedbeds by severe cold wave while higher production cost following rise in diesel price and shortage of labourers add to the situation. DAE set a target to cultivate boro on about one lakh 71 thousand and 600 hectares of land in the district in the current season. Farmers in some areas have started transplanting boro saplings on their land but seedbeds on vast areas have already been damaged by severe cold wave. "Due to price hike of diesel, it now costs Tk 300 to irrigate a katha of land with a diesel-run machine, which was Tk 250 earlier. Besides, we often fail to get labourers although their daily wage per person is Tk 250 to Tk 300," said Dhirendra, a farmer of Baldashi village in Dingiutha of Mohanganj upazila. Our correspondents from Bogra and Kurigram have also reported the negative impact of cold wave and rise in irrigation cost on boro farming this season.
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