Cold coupled with dense fog damaging seedbeds

Persistent cold spell and dense fog is causing damage to boro seedbeds in vast areas of the district, much to the worry of farmers in the peak cultivation season.
So far, around half of the targeted 41,501 hectares of land in three upazilas under the district has been brought under boro cultivation that will continue till mid-February, said sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Narail.
But many farmers have to sow the seeds again to cultivate boro as the seedlings on many beds have turned yellowish due to cold and dense fog, the growers said during this correspondent's visit to different areas.
Amid the situation, a good number of many farmers, already frustrated due to present low prices of their earlier harvested aman paddy, are thinking of refraining from boro cultivation, they said.
“I have to incur huge loss as three-week-old seedlings on my 30 decimals of land got damaged due to severe cold coupled with dense fog,” said Razzak Mollah, a farmer at Boro Kalia village of Kalia upazila in Narail.
"Boro seedlings on many seedbeds are turning yellowish in absence of sunlight. It will not be possible for me to cultivate boro this season if seedlings on my 10 decimals of land are fully damaged,” said Binoy Krishno of Echorbaha village under Narail Sadar upazila.
Admitting possible setback in boro cultivation due to 'cold injuries' in seedbeds this season, Ahsok Halder, Narail district training officer of DAE, said agriculture officials are visiting the fields and giving farmers advice how to minimise the effect.