Rain upsets vegetable seed growers

Untimely and incessant rain throughout this month is worrying vegetable seed producers in two upazilas as their seedbeds are being attacked by pests, which may lead to a fall in seed production this year.

An official of the Department of Agriculture Extension said a large number of farmers are involved in producing seeds of bitter gourd, tomato, brinjal, chilli and cauliflower in 15 villages under two upazilas.

Around 550 bighas of land have been prepared in these villages for producing vegetable seeds this year, while it was 480 bighas last year, the official said.

Farmers said they prepare the seedbeds in January and harvest the seeds in April-May. They need to spray pesticide from mid-March to mid-April, but cannot do so due to incessant rain.

Nazir Hossain, 48, of Fulgachh village in Lalmonirhat Sadar said he has prepared 60 decimals of land for producing tomato seeds with the target of producing 30 kg of seed as he got 20 kg from 40 decimals last year. “Last year, I sold tomato seeds to a seed company for Tk 10,000 per kg,” he said, adding that he has already spent Tk 1.38 lakh for producing seeds on 60 decimals this year. “I'm very much concerned that I will not get expected seed production due to pest attack,” he added.

Hazrat Ali, 45, of Karnopur village said they need to spend Tk 4,000 for producing brinjal seeds on one decimal of land. “We can produce 4 kg of brinjal seeds from one decimal of land, and sell them at Tk 3,000 per kg to a seed company,” he said, adding that he has spent Tk 80,000 for producing brinjal seeds on 20 decimals of land this season. “I am facing problems spraying pesticide on the seedbeds due to untimely rain this year, but it is essential to protect the seedbeds from pest attack,” he said.

Atul Chandra Roy, 38, a seed producer at Durakuti village said they never had rain during the Bangla month of Chaitra before, but it is different this year and it is having a very bad impact on seed production. “We are still hoping to earn profit in spite of the untimely rain, but if there is a hailstorm it will dash our expectation,” he added.

Upazila Agriculture Office Enamul Haque said they are advising farmers to use polythene covers to protect the seedbeds from rainfall after spraying pesticide.