High diesel price frustrates Pabna farmers
Monday, 6 April 2009
Our Correspondent
PABNA, Apr 5: Irri-boro paddy cultivation in Pabna is facing a setback because of a drought-like situation for lack of rain. In many areas, cracks have developed on fields due to lack of water. Farmers said they were facing an unusual situation like the one in 1979 when there was no rain for several months.
Because of scorching heat and lack of rain, fields have become dry within two to three days of irrigation whereas the same fields remained wet for seven to eight days after irrigation in the previous years, they observed.
The dry soil needs more irrigation now, which they cannot afford because of high price of diesel and load-shedding, farmers in many areas in Pabna told the Financial Express.
In previous years, January and February witnessed shower once or twice, but there was none so far this year, they said. Besides, the dry spell also brings in pest attack on paddy fields, they said.
Deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Pabna Md. Sanaullah said Irri-boro paddy cultivation in the northern districts would suffer a setback if there was no rain in two weeks.
He also said more than 67,600 hectares of land were brought under Irri-boro cultivation in the district this season. The farmers are dependant on diesel for two third of their cropland. But the majority of the farmers do not purchase diesel due to its high price, he added.
As a result, several thousand hectares of boro land are being dried up in different places in the district, the deputy director said.
PABNA, Apr 5: Irri-boro paddy cultivation in Pabna is facing a setback because of a drought-like situation for lack of rain. In many areas, cracks have developed on fields due to lack of water. Farmers said they were facing an unusual situation like the one in 1979 when there was no rain for several months.
Because of scorching heat and lack of rain, fields have become dry within two to three days of irrigation whereas the same fields remained wet for seven to eight days after irrigation in the previous years, they observed.
The dry soil needs more irrigation now, which they cannot afford because of high price of diesel and load-shedding, farmers in many areas in Pabna told the Financial Express.
In previous years, January and February witnessed shower once or twice, but there was none so far this year, they said. Besides, the dry spell also brings in pest attack on paddy fields, they said.
Deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Pabna Md. Sanaullah said Irri-boro paddy cultivation in the northern districts would suffer a setback if there was no rain in two weeks.
He also said more than 67,600 hectares of land were brought under Irri-boro cultivation in the district this season. The farmers are dependant on diesel for two third of their cropland. But the majority of the farmers do not purchase diesel due to its high price, he added.
As a result, several thousand hectares of boro land are being dried up in different places in the district, the deputy director said.