RAJSHAHI, May 9: The farmers in different upazilas of the district are worried about their Boro paddies which were submerged by the recent hailstorm accompanied by torrential rainfall.
Besides, the farmers are worried about acute crisis of agricultural labourer.
The farmers cultivated early varieties of Boro paddies including Jirashail, BRRI-28 and BRRI-29. As the yield was good, they were dreaming of a good profit. But, their dream has been shattered due to the sudden hailstorm and rainfall.
The farmers themselves have started cutting Boro paddy from the submerged lands as there is shortage of agricultural labourers.
Farmer Nur Mohammad said they will not be able to keep paddy on homesteads until the water is drained out from there. If the paddy fields remain flooded for some more days, the paddies will be badly damaged.
He added that the famers will not get expected yield this time. Besides, the workers are demanding more wages because of the agricultural labourer crisis.
Farmer Afaj Uddin Sarker of Teghor Village in Paba Upazila said, "I cultivated Boro paddy on six bighas of land this year, but half of my Boro paddy fields was damaged due to the hailstorm. I will have to face loss of about Tk 5,000 to 6,000 in per bigha of land. Besides, there is acute labourer crisis."
Deputy Director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension Dev Dulal Dhali said, "No one has any control over natural disasters. The farmers will not face so much loss as they are apprehending. Now, they are at stake with the submerged Boro paddy. I advise them to cut the paddy quickly."
The DD also said this year's Boro farming target in the district was 66,212 hectares of land, but the paddy was cultivated on 69,205 ha of land, and it was 67,000 ha last year.
