Farmers sow boro seeds early to avert cold, fog

A farmer prepares his boro seedbed in Fulchhari upazila under Gaibandha district. Farmers in the area have started sowing the seeds early in the season to get mature and healthy seedlings for transplantation in time, as sowing of the seeds during winter would make them vulnerable to 'cold injury'. PHOTO: STAR

Farmers of Fulchhari upazila under the district are busy preparing boro seedbeds and sowing the seeds as they are in hurry to complete the task before start of cold spell and foggy weather in the coming winter to get mature and healthy seedlings for transplantation in the peak period.

Seed markets see thronging of buyers due to the situation.

"Quality seedlings are needed for good yield of boro crop. But during the cold spell and foggy weather, premature boro seedlings often suffer from cold injuries and afterwards they dry up, badly affecting the yield," said Majid Prodhan, a farmer of Dakkhin Katur village in Fulchhari upazila.

"We had bitter experience in the past, when seedling grew reddish and dried up in seedbed due to prolonged cold spell and thick fog. It became difficult to get healthy and matured seedlings in time of transplantation," said Mamatazuddin, another farmer of Saluya village in the same upazila.

"Late plantation of boro seedlings often makes the plants fall prey to natural calamities like hailstorm and heavy shower, especially in the Bangla month of Baishakh. Besides, the areas are flood-prone, and so, the farmers need to harvest the crop earlier," said Abdul Jobbar of Uriya village.

Farmers will hopefully get mature and healthy boro seedlings as they are sowing the seeds much before the possible appearance of foggy and chilly weather, said Tahajul Islam, upazila agriculture officer.