GHORAGHAT, DINAJPUR, Aug 1: Water crisis is hampering transplanted Aman (T-Aman) cultivation in Ghoraghat Upazila of the district.
According to local sources, the T-Aman cultivation is being adversely impacted due to lack of expected rainfall in the upazila in the month of Shraban.
Some farmers are preparing their fields through irrigation machines for planting saplings.
Hot sun is damaging T-Aman seedbeds while saplings in prepared fields are drying.
According to the upazila agriculture department, this season 11,500 hectares of land have been targeted for T-Aman cultivation in the upazila; according to the demand, seedbeds have been raised.
Earlier this time in the past, saplings would be planted by using rain water. But this year it has been different.
At present, saplings have been planted in low fields at a limited scale.
Irrigation water is being pumped by machines from roadside canal while many are lifting water by deep tube-well.
T-Aman farmer Maznu Mia said, "Saplings cannot be planted in raised and medium raised lands."
Though extra-irrigation cost is increasing farming cost, farmers are using irrigated water in compelling condition, he added.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Rafiquzzaman said, 50 per T-Aman cultivation has been completed at Ghoraghat
Due to want of water, the remaining 50 per cent is halted, he added.
He further said, Barind authorities and irrigation pump owners have been asked for providing water to farmers.
It is the right time for sapling plantation, he said again.
It is the best time to use supplementary water for finishing the sapling plantation, he added.
