Dearth of monsoon rain to cost farmers dear

Cracks have appeared in a field in Rajshahi days after transplantation of Aman seedlings as there is no rain for 25 days during the peak monsoon season. PHOTO: STAR

Unbelievable though, there was no rain in three districts of Rajshahi, Chapainwabganj, Naogaon and part of Natore in last 25 days during the peak hour of monsoon.

According to sources in meteorological department, there was 189 mm rainfall in June and only 17.6mm so far this month, totaling 206 mm during the whole monsoon this year. The rainfall was about 400 mm during the corresponding period last year.

Agriculture officials said a minimum of 500 mm rainfall is needed for Aman paddy cultivation.

Farmers said they now see little hope of transplantation and prospect of Aman paddy this year because it is fully dependant on rainfall.

Due to absence of rainfall, many farmers tried to transplant Aman by irrigating their fields. But days after, fields get dried up, they said during this correspondent's visit to some areas in Rajshahi and Naogaon.

And those who have already transplanted saplings in their fields are facing acute scarcity of rainfall and shortage of water in their fields. Repeated irrigation costs a lot of money now because of higher fuel cost, they said.

Habibur Rahman, 28, of Saronjay village in Tanore upazila said he is waiting for sufficient rainfall to transplant Aman seedlings.

Abul Kalam, 22, of Kundalia village in Godagari upazila was irrigating his field with a shallow machine. Cost of Aman farming will be more this year due to supplementary irrigation, he said.

Obaidullah, 55, of Palasy village in Godagari upazila said he transplanted Aman saplings on five bighas during mid-July by irrigating the lands but cracks have appeared due to absence of rain and saplings are drying up.

Abdus Sattar at Rajshahi Meteorological Office said the insufficient rainfall this year is unusual. There was no heavy rainfall in Rajshahi even for a single day during the last two months, he said.

He however said there is possibility of post-monsoon rain as well as flood.

But that will harm Aman crop, farmers said. The time for transplanting Aman and nursing fields is running out. Sowing seedlings after July 15 will reduce yield, they said.