Potato, chilli cultivation hampered due to shortage of seed in Shariatpur
Sunday, 2 September 2007
SHARIATPUR, Sept 1 (UNB): Potato and chilli cultivation had been hampered due to shortage of seeds caused by the recent floods in the district.
"We don't need any relief, we want seeds and fertiliser," said flood-affected farmers of the district.
Farmers of the district mainly depend on chilli and potato cultivation to earn their livelihood. After meeting the local demand, the potato and chilli are sent to other parts of the country including Dhaka.
This year's flood had damaged standing crops and seedbeds on vast tracts of land. With the recession of floodwaters, farmers of the district returned to the fields to cultivate their land in order to recoup their loss incurred due to the flood but they could not do so because of seed and fertiliser crises.
Cultivators of Kanchikata union of Bhederganj Upazila said that they had set a target to cultivate chilli and potato on 14,000 acres of land.
They said they needed 10 to 12 kilograms of fertiliser for every decimal of land whereas the government allocated 1.5 kilogram for each decimal.
Farmers of Bhederganj Upazila alleged that they had to cross the Padma to go to the Upazila Headquarters to collect fertiliser as no dealer had been appointed at union level until now.
They also said that they could not buy fertiliser from other parts of the country, including Chandpur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj, as the government had made it mandatory to buy fertiliser from their respective upazilas.
Farmers alleged that the government was yet to give any support to the farmers in this regard. They were also apprehending that the targeted cultivation would not be possible in the district this season as time for preparing new seedbeds would be over soon.
Deputy Assistant Agricultural officer of Kanchikata union Abdus Salam said: "We are facing problems because of shortage of seeds and fertiliser."
Local UNO Azimuddin Biswas said steps were on to appoint dealers in Kanchikata union so that the farmers do not have to go to the Bhederganj Upazila Headquarters to collect fertiliser.
"We don't need any relief, we want seeds and fertiliser," said flood-affected farmers of the district.
Farmers of the district mainly depend on chilli and potato cultivation to earn their livelihood. After meeting the local demand, the potato and chilli are sent to other parts of the country including Dhaka.
This year's flood had damaged standing crops and seedbeds on vast tracts of land. With the recession of floodwaters, farmers of the district returned to the fields to cultivate their land in order to recoup their loss incurred due to the flood but they could not do so because of seed and fertiliser crises.
Cultivators of Kanchikata union of Bhederganj Upazila said that they had set a target to cultivate chilli and potato on 14,000 acres of land.
They said they needed 10 to 12 kilograms of fertiliser for every decimal of land whereas the government allocated 1.5 kilogram for each decimal.
Farmers of Bhederganj Upazila alleged that they had to cross the Padma to go to the Upazila Headquarters to collect fertiliser as no dealer had been appointed at union level until now.
They also said that they could not buy fertiliser from other parts of the country, including Chandpur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj, as the government had made it mandatory to buy fertiliser from their respective upazilas.
Farmers alleged that the government was yet to give any support to the farmers in this regard. They were also apprehending that the targeted cultivation would not be possible in the district this season as time for preparing new seedbeds would be over soon.
Deputy Assistant Agricultural officer of Kanchikata union Abdus Salam said: "We are facing problems because of shortage of seeds and fertiliser."
Local UNO Azimuddin Biswas said steps were on to appoint dealers in Kanchikata union so that the farmers do not have to go to the Bhederganj Upazila Headquarters to collect fertiliser.