Rain boon for Aman, curse for vegetable

Incessant rain over the north-eastern districts of the country has been a blessing for Aman paddy cultivators and a curse for vegetable growers in Sylhet region.

Moderate rainfall helps Aman paddy to grow properly, but it may damage newly planted winter vegetables, said agriculture officers and farmers.

Visiting different areas of Sylhet and Moulvibazar recently, this correspondent found that paddy growers are very happy with such weather.

Joynal Abedin, a farmer of Bhuksimoil area in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar, told this correspondent that rainy weather is favourable for cultivating Aman paddy and helps in getting bumper production.

Around 3,87,000 hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation in Sylhet division this year, said Sylhet Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Deputy Director (DD) Abul Hasem.

On the other hand, vegetable growers in Sylhet region are in fear that their newly planted winter vegetables might get damaged due to rain.

“I am having great difficulty protecting my vegetable plants. I want the rain to stop,” said Miftha Uddin, a farmer of Angura Mohammadpur village in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet.

“I planted seedlings of vegetables on 30 bighas of land this month and hope to harvest the crop in January. But I am afraid that my plants may get damaged by rain,” said Idris Ali, a farmer of Bhuksimoil village in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar.

Moulvibazar DAE DD Shahjahan Chowdhury told this correspondent they are providing all-out cooperation to famers to minimise the damage to vegetables.