The government-promised Aman seeds and fertiliser are yet to reach the affected poor and marginal farmers, according to reports reaching from some of the affected districts.

The government earlier announced free distribution of five kg Aman seeds and 25 kg fertiliser to each poor farmer in flood affected areas.

But at most places, seeds are yet to reach farmers though it is high time for transplanting seedlings. Seedlings can be transplanted from seedbeds after 21 days of sowing, at the earliest. Transplantation after August reduces output significantly, according to agriculture experts.

Small quantities of seedlings are available in markets in affected areas, which are sold at exorbitant prices, according to reports from out correspondents. Big farmers can buy seedlings but smaller and marginal ones, can not afford those.

Our Rangpur Correspondent reports: Aman seedlings are scarce in five upzilas of Kurigram

District, where floods damaged most of the seedbeds.

Small quantities of seedlings are sold at local markets at very high prices, which is beyond the buying capacity of farmers.

Some farmers this correspondent talked to said they went to neighouring districts for seedlings, but returned empty handed.

During a visit to Velur Khamar village in Ulipur upzila on Thursday, farmer Motiur Rahman told this correspondent that he bought Tk 3000 seedlings from Dinajpur for one acre of land. The price is ten times higher than normal, he said.

All seedbeds in 71 unions in the district were damaged by flood.

The farmers said about 3000 hectors of land may remain fallow in the current Aman season.

Asked about government's free seed and fertiliser, some said they heard it on TV but did not know whether any one got it.

Kurigram AED officials said BADC (Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation) officials regretted to them, failing to supply the required quantity of Amon seeds.

An official at Rangpur AED office said they do not have any reserve of Aman seeds but have floated tender to procure seeds.

Those will be distributed among affected farmers after procurement, they said.

A BADC official seeking anonymity said only three percent of government's Aman seed distribution target could be achieved because of shortage.

"Procurement of four tonnes of Aman seeds in the current season is almost impossible", he said.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: Seedlings on 3,080 hectare of land have been completely damaged by flood in Gaibandha district, according to assessment made by the AED. A total of 3,25,635 farmers were badly affected in the district.

Most of the small and marginal farmers spent their last penny during flood for survival. Now they have no money for Aman farming. Many of them will have to transplant seedlings for the second time as earlier transplanted Aman seedlings were damaged by the deluge.

"I am searching for seedlings for the last two days and procured three and half pawn (80 bundles) of seedlings from market at Tk 160 per pawn," said Abdur Rahman of Chagoa village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila.

Prices have shot up in market. One pawn now sells at Tk 160 to 180 depending on quality against Tk 50 to 70 earlier, he said. Five to six pawns are needed per bigha.

Moneylenders have also become active in flood affected areas, providing poor farmers with loans at Tk 10 to 12 per cent interest per month, some farmers said.

Finding no alternative, farmers are compelled to borrow money at so high interest or promising to sell paddy at Tk 200 per maund after harvest.

Government has allocated Tk 1.51crore for agriculture rehabilitation in Gaibandha. Under this programme, 23,010 small and marginal farmers will get seedlings and other inputs free for one bigha.

AED officials here said they received Tk 33 lakh so far for supplying seedlings among farmers.

"Seedbeds of late variety Aman is being prepared on 150 acres of land for supplying seedlings to farmers," said AED Deputy Director Abdur Rouf.

"Priority list of farmers for distributing seedlings is being prepared by union rehabilitation committees", he said.

But many farmers this correspondent talked to in the sadar upazila said the government help will go to people close to local body members.

Model farmer Kamrul Hasan at Kholahati village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila said, "It is high time but I can not procure seedlings".

Our Netrakona Correspondent reports: Aman seeds are sold at between Tk 400 and 500 per five kilogram in markets, which is beyond the purchasing capacity of poor flood affected farmers in Netrakona and Kishoreganj.

The government-promised seeds are yet to reach agriculture officials, they said.

An acute scarcity of Aman seedlings is prevailing in the two districts, most areas of which were severely affected by the flood.

AED officials said it would be difficult to attain the Aman cultivation target of 1,26,000 hectares in Netrakona and 1,18000 in Kishorgonj.

Kamal Hossain of Jugir Nagua village in Atpara upazila in Netrakona said he will transplant Aman on two acres and another three acres will remain fallow for want of seedlings.

Many farmers said they did not get the government seeds and fertiliser but the prime time for sowing is almost over.