16 N dists facing drought

Our Staff Correspondent reports from Rajshahi: Aman fields have already dried up in Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) is distributing leaflets, holding meetings and campaigning through loud speakers to make farmers aware about different methods of combating drought in the 16 districts.

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Most of the farmers are deprived of irrigation facilities because musclemen control water bodies in Pabna, Bogra, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts, according to Union Parishad chairmen in the affected areas.

DAE urged the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority to start operation of all deep and shallow tubewells for irrigation.

Although Aman has been cultivated on over 90 per cent of targeted land in 16 districts, still the production may fall short of target by 40 lakh tons.

Special prayers have been held for rain in Natore, Naogaon and Rangpur districts.

Our Nilphamari Correspondent reports: Tender aman seedlings are dying due to continued drought here since the Bangla month of Srabon (mid-July to mid-August).

Most ponds and canals have dried up developing cracks on lands in different places.

Because of lack of water, farmers here are compelled to keep their stalk of jute stockpiled on high land instead of rotting in water.

Early flood in Ashar (mid-June to mid-July) gave a big blow to local farmers. Flood caused water logging in many parts here delaying aman plantation. Flood has damaged Aman seed beds on a vast tract of land.

After recession of floodwaters, farmers made new seed beds and planted aman seedlings with renewed hope.

About 1,14,248 hectares of land in the six upazilas had been targeted for aman cultivation, according to DAE. Meantime, 95 per cent of the target has been achieved.

But the prospect of paddy cultivation has become bleak due to absence of rainfall and irrigation facilities.

DAE recorded only 237 mm of rainfall in stead of required 600 mm of rainfall here in a month.

While visiting Tapamari, Charaikhola, Sindoi, Tangonmari, Putimani, Chaoradangi, Chuto Ranta and other villages, this correspondent saw rich farmers irrigating their paddy fields with shallow machines while marginal farmers remained idle.

Kalimuddin, an elderly farmer at Sindoi village, told this correspondent if the situation continues for more 10 days, it will be a debacle for farmers.

During his visit he found tender aman crops being infected with insects. The attack is severe because of drought, farmers informed this correspondent.

To combat the menace, DAE advised farmers to spray insecticide. DAE also advised to apply additional fertiliser.

Losing everything in the deluge, poor farmers won't be able to buy additional fertiliser and pesticide.

However, irrigation facilities will be provided to farmers who are association (samity) members, according to a source in Teesta Irrigation Project of the Water Development Board. But a large number of farmers will be deprived of irrigation facilities because they are not association members.

"Now we only pray to Allah to get rid of this situation," lamented Sirajul Islam, a marginal farmer at Goyabari village in Dimla upazila.

Farmers are offering special prayers for immediate rainfall.

BSS reports from Thakurgaon: Aman crops have been damaged partially due to drought.

The crop is likely to be damaged completely if there is no rainfall within a week.

Md Mohsin Ali, Deputy Director, DAE, Thakurgaon said about 4,000 shallow tube wells and 167 deep tube wells of BMDA started irrigation on aman fields.

For irrigation purpose, DAE is supplying plastic tape pipes to farmers.