Fog impeding boro cultivation

IN different parts of the country dense fog impedes preparation of boro seedbeds, newspapers report.
Farmers apprehend that there might be serious shortage of boro seedlings as a huge number of boro seedbeds has already been damaged. Since the country's rice stock largely depends on the boro output, there might be a crisis in rice market if necessary measures to save the boro seedbeds are not taken immediately.
It is learnt that nearly 30 per cent of boro seedbeds have been affected by severe cold and dense fog in Rangpur division alone. Even after spraying medicines the seedlings could not be protected.
The same situation prevails in central and eastern parts of the country which are major boro producing areas. A bad crop will not only affect the farmers, but also will destabilize the market of rice, the main staple food of over 160 million people of the country.
We hope that the concerned officials of the agriculture department will take urgent steps to help farmers save the boro seedbeds.
Iqbal Ahmed
Elephant Road, Dhaka