BARISHAL, Mar 15: Farmers across the Barishal agricultural region are growing increasingly anxious over irrigation for nearly four lakh hectares of Boro paddy due to what many describe as an artificial shortage of diesel.
The concern comes despite the fact that a severe diesel crisis has not yet fully emerged in the fields. However, fuel supply in remote rural areas is not entirely normal, raising fears among farmers who rely heavily on diesel-powered irrigation pumps.
To ensure uninterrupted irrigation, authorities have begun monitoring the situation, though strong administrative measures were initially limited. Over the past two days, the divisional and district administrations in Barishal have held several meetings to ensure a steady supply of diesel, particularly to remote areas, and to prevent misuse.
Barishal Divisional Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman recently spoke with all district administrators to review the situation at the field level and instructed them to maintain close monitoring and constant supervision.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), about 383,000 hectares of land have already been brought under Boro cultivation in the Barishal agricultural region during the current Rabi season, achieving nearly 98 per cent of the target.
Officials expect the cultivation target to be fully achieved - and even exceeded - within the coming week as Boro transplantation continues in many areas.
Agriculture officials are optimistic that the region will produce nearly 1.8 million tonnes of rice from Boro cultivation this season, provided irrigation remains uninterrupted over the next two months.
The region had already produced about 2.4 million tonnes of rice from Aman cultivation during the previous Kharif-2 season. In addition, about 58,000 hectares of wheat are currently being cultivated in the region, from which nearly 200,000 tonnes of wheat are expected to be harvested within the next 10 to 15 days.
Data from the DAE shows that around 87,000 irrigation pumps are currently operating in the Barishal agricultural region for Boro cultivation. Of these, nearly 75,000 are diesel-powered.
These pumps require an estimated 500,000 litres of diesel every day on average. Ensuring uninterrupted supply and proper distribution of this fuel has now become a major challenge for the government and local administrations, according to agricultural experts.
Experts say there is no alternative to maintaining a smooth diesel supply over the next two months if the region is to harvest the expected 1.8 million tonnes of Boro rice.
Contacted, Barishal Divisional Commissioner and Additional Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman said, there is no shortage of diesel and the supply chain remains intact.
"However, if anyone attempts to create obstacles or artificial disruptions in the supply, the administration will deal with it strictly," he said.
Dr Nazrul Islam Sikder, Additional Director of the DAE, said the deadline for Boro transplantation has been set for March 15 and farmers in the Barishal agricultural region are expected to exceed the cultivation target.
Boro crops planted earlier are now entering the panicle initiation stage, while transplantation is still continuing in some areas. As a result, uninterrupted irrigation over the next two months is essential, he said.
Nazrul Islam also stressed the need to ensure adequate supply of diesel, fertiliser and other agricultural inputs to support farmers during this crucial period.
Several agricultural experts, speaking on condition of anonymity, also emphasised the need to expand solar-powered and electrified irrigation systems in the southern region.
