Boro, mango and litchi may be badly affected

In absence of rain, mangoes fall off the trees before being matured at an orchard at Golahar village in Chirirbabdar upazila of Dinajpur, Photo: Star

Irri-boro crops and growing mangoes and litchis are badly affected in the district due to lack of rain, according to the district officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
Moreover, farmers cannot irrigate their land properly due to frequent load shedding.
Farmers in the district fear a low production of rice, mango and litchi this year as Irri-boro fields are drying up while growing mangoes and litchis coming off the trees.
According to the district DAE officials, around 1.75 lakh hectares of land have been brought under Irri-boro farming in Dinajpur this year, setting a production target of 7 lakh tonnes.
The target may not be achieved this year for lack of rain and proper irrigation, the officials said. Md Anwarul Alam, deputy director of Dinajpur DAE, said Irri-boro farming is mostly depended on irrigation. “Smooth power supply can ensure good yield of Irri-boro,” he added.
Farmers said they cannot irrigate their croplands properly as they face at least 12 to 15 hours load shedding everyday. According to the officials of Dinajpur Palli Bidyut Samity-1, they get only 20MW electricity everyday against the demand for at least 52MW.
During a recent visit to Khansama, Chirirbandar and Dinajpur Sadar upazilas, this correspondent saw many dried up paddy fields. Farmers told him that their croplands had dried up due to absence of rain and disruption in water supply for frequent load shedding.
Mango and litchi growers said a drought like situation has been prevailing in the district since February. “Initially, we hoped a good yield of mango and litchi this season. Now we give up the hope as growing mangoes and litchis are coming off trees for lack of rain,” said Md Abdur Rahim, a mango orchard owner in Khansama upazila.

A dried up boro field at the village. Photo: Star

According to the orchard owners, rain is a must at the end of March for mangoes and litchis to grow bigger. Unfortunately, the district saw no rain during the time, they added.
According to Dinajpur Met office, the rainfall recorded in February was only 9.88mm while the average rainfall for the month is 125mm. The district saw no rain in January, March and until April 16.
Horticulturist Saifur Arefin said he has advised the growers to sprinkle water on litchis and mangoes to help them grow bigger.