RANGPUR, Aug 18: A severe crisis of Aman paddy seedlings has been prevailing in the flood-affected areas under five districts in Rangpur agriculture region this year.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said this year more than 32,000 hectares of crop fields worth Tk 1.50 billion have been damaged by flood water, caused by torrential rain and onrush of water from the upstream in five districts under the region.
Of the total around 5,530 hectares of Aman seedbeds were damaged, resulting in acute scarcity of seedlings. The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha.
The worst affected districts are Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha. Aman seedbeds on vast tract of lands perished in the districts as the crop fields had remained submerged by flood water for about one month.
Expressing disappointment a good number of peasants alleged that after recession of flood water they made vigorous effort to cultivate Aman but they have been facing serious difficulties due to paucity of seedlings.
Moreover, Due to scarcity of seedlings, price of the same has marked a sharp rise across the region. The small and marginal cultivators are the worst sufferers of the adverse circumstances as they are unable to afford such exorbitant price of saplings, it is alleged.
Sources alleged that a good number of growers might not be able to transplant Aman seedlings again on their land due to paucity of the same and shortage of time.
Many of them might have to cultivate Rabi crops on their lands instead of Aman paddy, they added.
Nazrul, a farmer of Dhusmara village in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur said that he transplanted Aman seedlings on 30 decimals of land this year.
But owing to flash flood, his crop field was damaged and at present it has become almost impossible for him to replant Aman saplings because of non-availability of saplings, he added.
The Rangpur DAE official sources said the adequate measures have been taken to make seedbeds including floating seedbeds across the region to combat the situation.
Aman saplings will be distributed among the affected farmers under the region.
This year DAE has set a target to cultivate Aman paddy on around 5,06000 hectares of land in five districts under the region, sources added.
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