Photo shows Boro paddy seedbeds are covered with polythene sheets at a village in Khulna district to protect them from 'cold injury' under the influence of the persistent cold weather — FE Photo Unrelenting bad impact of the prevailing cold weather coupled with dense fog is causing widespread harm to Boro paddy seedbeds in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet districts, creating a worrying situation for the farmers.
Our Rangpur correspondent reports: 'Cold injury' (or cold weather injury) due to exposure to cold is taking a heavy toll on Boro seedbeds in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region.
Growers are facing much difficulty in saving their seedbeds prepared for transplantation of Boro seedlings from the harm of cold despite spraying medicine frequently.
Boro seedbeds in different areas are turning yellowish and getting nearly damaged under the impact of dense fog.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), around 35 to 40 per cent Boro seedbeds have been affected by intense cold and dense fog across the region.
Expressing apprehension, a good number of farmers said if the situation continues for next one or two weeks, there might be a dearth of seedlings during transplantation period.
DAE, Rangpur official sources said the department has set a target to prepare Boro seedbeds on some 23,176 hectares of land in five districts of Rangpur agriculture region in the current season.
The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari.
The official sources also mentioned that DAE has set a target to bring 5,07,000 hectares of land under Boro paddy cultivation in the five districts of the region this season.
Dinesh Chandra, a farmer of Benughat village under Rangpur, said that he has prepared Boro seedbeds on 10 decimals of land. A major portion of his seedbeds has perished owing to intense cold and dense fog. He will have to incur a financial loss for preparing fresh seedbeds again, he added.
Solaiman Bosunia, another farmer of Choraikhola village under Nilphamari Sadar upazila, said that he has prepared Boro seedbeds on 20 decimals of land. More than 70 per cent of his seedbeds has been affected thanks to severe cold.
DAE Rangpur official sources said that due to severe cold and dense fog, Boro seedbeds in different areas have been affected. Peasants were advised to cover seedbeds with polythene at night and use proper fertilisers as well as medicine to protect them.
Our Rajshahi correspondent adds: Farmers are worried as their Boro paddy seedbeds are getting extensively damaged due to the chilly weather associated with thick fog in the region.
In the prevailing severe cold and fog weather, seedlings are turning red and yellowish. Farmers fear massive damage to their crop if such unwholesome weather continues.
However, the DAE has given several advices to the farmers including covering the seedbeds with polythene sheets to protect the Boro seedbeds.
According to the DAE, Rajshahi, target to prepare seedbeds in Rajshahi region was set at 3,508 hectares of land this time. But seedbeds were developed on 3,471 hectares of land, which will increase further.
Meanwhile, Boro paddy cultivation has increased this year compared to the previous years in the region. This year, the target of Boro paddy cultivation in Rajshahi district is 70,165 hectares. The DAE expects that Boro paddy will be cultivated in about 100 hectares more land than last year.
Bariul Islam, a farmer of Bandhair village of Tanor upazila, said, "Due to severe cold weather and fog, seedlings on the seedbeds have turned yellowish."
"I am tending the seedbeds as per the advice of the agriculture department, but the seedlings are not growing that way."
Al Mahmud Hossain, a farmer of Kaidanga village of Charghat upazila, has prepared a seedbed on four bighas of land.
He said, "I will plant saplings on my five bigha land and I will sell the remaining seedlings in the market. Due to planting on high land, the loss of seedbeds in winter is less, but the seedbeds are being affected due to water shortage."
Mozdar Hossain , deputy director of the DAE, Rajshahi said, "Boro paddy seedbeds made in wet water is more damaged due to cold flow and dense fog. But in Rajshahi, the environment was not affected due to the high ground of seedbeds. Besides, we advise farmers to cover seedbeds with polythene. And now farmers are much more aware.'
Our Correspondent from Khulna says: Farmers in Khulna region are busy preparing Boro seedbeds as elsewhere in the country. But they are worried as foggy weather damaged seedbeds. They are also fearing heavy loss due the situation.
During a visit in some areas, the correspondent found that seedlings in some seedbeds have turned yellowish. Many farmers are covering the seedbeds with polythene.
Rahim Ali, a farmer at a village in Khulna district, said, "If the situation continues for some more days, Boro production might fall short of target."
Jamal Mia, another farmer of the area said, "From the beginning of the Bengali month Magh, we are planting Boro seedlings."
DAE Khulna official sources said the target of Boro cultivation has been fixed at 36,620 hectares of land this year in the district.
According to the DAE sources, there is a risk of crop destruction in Boro season due to fog and severe cold.
Our correspondent from Sylhet reports: Amid the prevailing cold weather in Sylhet region, the farmers have already started cultivation of Boro paddy in almost all the areas of the four districts.
According to a report prepared by the DAE's Sylhet divisional office, Boro cultivation has been completed so far on the 71.39 per cent of the targeted land, which is 3,51,909 hectares, in the region.
The total land area includes 53,278 hectares in Sylhet, 36,810 hectares in Moulvibazar and 76,190 hectares in Sunamagnj district.
Abdul Main, a farmer of Bagha village in Golapganj said, "The farmers suffer due to cold weather, but it will not affect the farming."
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