Winter crops come under threat from rain, fog
"Crop production might decline by 50 per cent if the adverse weather persists for the next few days,"
FE REPORT | Sunday, 22 December 2024
Light rain and dense fog in different parts of the country have become a major cause of concern for farmers who are busy growing vegetables and Boro paddy, and also drying the harvested Aman paddy.
Drizzles dropped in some coastal areas on Saturday as a depression was persisting in the eastern and central Bay of Bengal.
Under its influence, Barguna, Pirojpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Jashore witnessed drizzles early in the morning.
Farmers in the coastal region have fallen in dire straits as they could not dry their harvested crops.
Khulna witnessed 6:00mm rain while Satkhira 5.0mm, the Met office said.
Jashore experienced 14.2 degrees Celsius temperature and 2.0mm rain, which has increased the intensity of cold.
The lowest temperature was recorded at 10.2°C degrees Celsius at Tentulia of Panchagarh on Saturday.
Wasim Ali, a farmer of Khulna, said vegetables were hit hard by rain and think fog.
"Crop production might decline by 50 per cent if the adverse weather persists for the next few days," he added.
Anowar Bepari, another farmer from Patuakhali Sadar, said, "Aman paddy drying season is underway. If the paddy is wet now, it will cause devastation for many farmers."
According to the Met office, the depression is likely to move north-northeasterly direction further and weaken gradually.
Meanwhile, dense fog has been prevailing in Rangpur and Dinajpur regions for the last few days, affecting vegetables and other crops.
People were experiencing biting cold amid the poor visibility.
It is becoming difficult for low-income people to go out to work.
Farmers are busy with potato and vegetable fields. They are now facing difficulties in cultivating Boro paddy and drying Aman paddy.
Due to dog, various diseases have attacked potato and vegetable fields, said Sarwar Hossain, a farmer-cum-trader in Nilphamari.
He also said that green chilli fields would also be affected severely if rain occurs now.
Mr Hossain said heavy rain was also affecting Boro seedbeds.