Scanty rain, price hike of fertilisers hamper Aman cultivation in S-W region

KHULNA, Aug 24: The farmers of 10 districts of Khulna division are frustrated as cultivation of Aman paddy is facing setback due to inadequate rainfall and price hike of fertiliser in the region.  
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office sources said, a total of 6, 94,181 hectares have been fixed as target to cultivate Aman in this current session of the region. Of them 2, 80,075 hectares land of high yielding, 7,285 hectares of land of local yielding and 6,375 hectares of hybrid. Total 77 per cent of the land has been cultivated and the target will be fulfilled within a week, officials expected.
DAE also said that 88,645 hectares of land have been cultivated in Jessore district, 2,400 heatares in Khulna, 69,275 hectares in Jhenidha, 7,905 hectares in Narail, 2,530 hectares in Bagerhat, 26,960 hectares in Satkhira, 2,660 hectares in Kushtia, 30,625 hectares in Chuadanga and 10,550 hectares in Meherpur district.    
Urea fertiliser is being sold in the local market at Tk 800 to Tk1200 per bag. A syndicate has been formed in the region to sell the fertiliser at exorbitant rate.
Rainfall was not adequate for cultivation of the crop this year. In this situation farmers have to depend on ground water for irrigation. But irrigation work is being hampered due to severe load-shedding of the area.
Farmer Razab Ali of Chukangar village under Dumuria Upazila said, "We had to spend a lot of money this year for irrigation as the district did not experience adequate rainfall for cultivation of the crop. We are paying Tk1500 per bigha for irrigation work."
When contacted Jessore Regional Director DAE Abdul Aziz admitted that some districts witnessed rainfall insufficient for Aman cultivation here.