The cyclonic storm 'Asani' formed in the Bay of Bengal started impacting parts of the coastal region from Monday noon with heavy rain and wind, posing threat to standing Boro crops.
Dearth of agricultural labourers is also mounting woes of the farmers in the costal belt who opted to harvest their crops in advance, said farmers.
Though the Met Office was yet (till 6:00 pm) to confirm whether the storm, moving west-north-westwards over the bay, would hit Bangladesh or not, its shock began to hamper Boro crop harvest in Satkhira, Jashore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barishal, Jhalakathi, Cox's Bazar and elsewhere in the coastal regions.
The cyclonic storm over west central bay and adjoining areas was moving west-northwestwards over the same area till 6:00 pm on Monday. It was 1100 km southwest of Chattogram port, 1045 km southwest of Cox's Bazar, 990 of Mongla port and 985 km of Payra Port while maximum sustained wind speed within 64 kms of the severe cyclonic centre was rising from 89 kms to 117 kms in squalls.
Sanaul Hoque Mandal, deputy director at Met Office, said they could say at Tuesday noon whether the storm would hit Bangladesh or not. He said the super cyclone is likely to reach the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast of India by May 10 and it may weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during next two days.
But the Met Office has forecast moderate to heavy rain in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram divisions and other parts of the country in next one day amid impact of the cyclonic storm. Coastal farmers, who came to know about the cyclone much earlier, were in a hurry to harvest standing Boro crops.
"We count losses due to heavy rain and scarcity of farm labourers," Md Rajon, a farmer at Sharsha in Jashore, said. He said one out of four bighas of his Boro land has been harvested so far. Rain has started this morning (Monday) and they are not getting any labour in their area despite offering Tk 4000-4500 for per bigha harvest, he said.
Additional deputy director of Department of Agricultural Extension, Jashore district, Saumitro Sarker said 52 per cent harvest has been completed in the district but many of the farmers keep their crops on the open field which might be a problem to some extent.
He said, "But there is no major risk as most of crops has ripened".
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