Vegetable growers cry for rain in Lalmonirhat

Vegetable growers in the district are upset due to lack of rainfall for the last three weeks and they are worried that they may not get expected production of crops this season.

Vegetable grower Nirobala Rani, 52, of Gorol village in Kaliganj upazila, said she takes care of her one acre brinjal field but is uncertain about getting expected output. “There has been no rainfall in the area for the last three weeks,” she said, adding that this is the first time she saw no rain during the rainy season.

Due to lack of rainfall during this rainy season he is uncertain about getting expected output in his two bigha tomato field, said Nurul Islam, 48, of Haziganj village in Aditmari upazila. “As there is no rainfall, insects have attacked the tomato plants,” he said.

Delwar Hossain, 65, of the same village said no rainfall and hot spell has seriously harmed vegetable farming in the area. “Rainfall in the rainy season is essential for vegetable farming,” he said.

“We wait for rain every day and become hopeful when we see black clouds in the sky, but get frustrated as there is no rain,” said Mohon Lal Sen, 67, of Bhatibari village in Sadar upazila.

District Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director (DD) Bidhubhushon Roy said different vegetables have been cultivated on 1,650 hectares of land in five upazilas of the district during this season.

The DD said he is also upset over no rainfall during this season. “Due to lack of rainfall the production of spinach has fallen and the quality is poor,” he said, adding that many growers are supplying irrigation water to their fields to get expected output.