Fuel price hike, power crisis hit Jhenaidah farmers hard
They demand provision of low-cost diesel through agriculture cards
Sunday, 21 August 2022
JHENAIDAH, Aug 20 (UNB): Already hit hard by a drought-like situation in the district and hike in fertiliser price, farmers of Jhenaidah this time have been facing the recent fuel price hike and power crisis in the country.
Farmers say their agricultural fields have dried up due to inadequate rainfall and their inability to continuously irrigate using diesel-powered pumps.
Besides, the prices of fertilisers have also increased over the past year, multiplying the losses of the farmers.
Majnur Rahman of Rangiyarpota village in Sadar upazila cultivated Ropa Aman on just five and a half bighas of his eight-bigha land this year. "Rising fuel and fertiliser prices forced me to take such a decision."
Another farmer, Jamal Uddin Biswas, expresses frustration over the recent fuel price hike. "If the fuel prices are not reduced, we will have to bear huge losses as the cultivation target will not be met this year," he said.
Farmer Somir Uddin said the Aman paddy needs plenty of rainfall. "Due to scanty rains this year, farmers need to spend an extra Tk 1,200 per bigha for irrigation."
Many farmers have demanded the provision of low-cost diesel through agricultural cards if the government cannot reduce fuel prices.
"If the prices of fertilisers, fuel and electricity increase in this agriculture-dependent country this way, farmers will be forced to give up farming at some point," said Somir Uddin.
Azgar Ali, deputy director of Jhenaidah Agricultural Extension Department, said a target has been set for the cultivation of Ropa Aman on 1,04,750 hectares of land in the district this year.
"By mid-August, 53,262 hectares have been cultivated only. Besides, various types of vegetables are being cultivated on 2,554 hectares of land," he said.
According to Azgar, there are 0.2 million (two lakh) farmer families in the district. "The target has not been met yet as the farmers could not irrigate their fields due to lack of water amid the fuel price hike and power crisis. We are advising the farmers to try their best to meet the target of Aman cultivation."