Cold, dense fog affect Boro seedbeds in Dinajpur
The ongoing cold weather accompanied by dense fog has started affecting the Boro seedbeds in the district, much to the worry of farmers.
“If such a weather continues for long, farmers might face shortage of seedlings. They will have to buy seedlings from other sources for Boro cultivation, which will add to the production cost,” said Khatib Uddin, a farmer of Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Dinajpur set a target of Boro paddy cultivation on around 1.71 lakh hectares of land in the district this year and farmers prepared seedbeds on 9,270 hectares for the purpose.
But the persistent cold weather coupled with dense fog, cloudy sky and rain has already affected the growth of the tender seedlings, turning those yellowish at many places.
Visiting different areas of the district during the last few days, this correspondent found that many farmers covered the seedbeds with polythene sheets and sprayed ashes of rice husk in a bid to protect the seedlings from the adverse weather.
Many of the farmers, already hard-pressed after losses from Aman cultivation last season due to low market prices, will have to buy seedlings to cultivate their Boro lands if the damage to seedbeds continues amid the adverse weather, said locals.
“Boro seeds on my one decimal of seedbed germinated quite healthy, but the seedlings turned yellowish due to the biting cold and foggy weather,” said Khalib Uddin, a farmer of Aladipur village in Phulbari upazila.
“I am concerned as there is no noticeable improvement despite applying the medicine prescribed by the agriculture department,” he said.
Moinul Islam of Chhatiangarh village in Khansama upazila said he is upset due to serious damage to his two-decimal seedbed at the beginning of the Boro season.
According to Dinajpur Met office, the mercury saw a serious fall in the district at the end of December last year and since then dense fog and cloudy sky featured most of the days.
The Met office recorded 6.4mm of rain during the 11 days from January 1.
The DAE officials said they are yet to estimate the extent of damage to seedbeds in the district.
Shamim Ashraf, an officer of Dinajpur DAE, said their sub-assistant agriculture officers are conducting field visits to help the farmers.
“The farmers are suggested to cover the seedbeds with polythene sheets and treat the seedlings with ash and medicines as per instruction of the DAE officials.
Hopefully, there will be no shortage of Boro seedlings this season as there is still enough time to prepare seedbeds,” he added.
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