IRRI-<i>boro</i> seed crisis in Kishoreganj <i>haors</i>
2,000 tonnes supplied against demand for over 6,000 tonnes
Farmers in haor areas of Itna, Austagram, Mitamoin and Nikly upazilas (UZs) are facing an acute shortage of IRRI-boro seeds in the ongoing season.
About 6,030 metric tons (MT) of IRRI-boro seeds are required in the haor areas but farmers got only 2,000 metric tons (MT) of seeds through 194 BADC dealers till date, said sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC).
Last year, IRRI-boro on over 24,000 acres of land in the four haor upazilas was damaged due to cold weather, said DAE deputy director (DD) here M A Baten. As a result, farmers could not preserve the seeds.
The haor areas are single crop areas, farmers said. They have to count extra money to buy IRRI-boro seeds in open markets, they said.
BADC is selling each kilogram (KG) IRRI-boro seeds at between Tk 23 to 28, official sources said. But traders are selling each kilogram paddy seed at between Tk 50 to 195 in open market.
District DAE office sources said, 3,96,450 acres of land will be brought under IRRI-boro cultivation this season.
Itna upazila agriculture officer (UAEO) Nurul Afsar said the production target of IRRI-boro might not be achieved this year as most of the farmers are unable to buy quality IRRI-boro seeds at high prices in open markets. They are now preparing their seed beds with substandard seeds, he said.
While visiting different haor areas, this correspondent found that the farmers are not only facing seed crisis but also facing scarcity of fertiliser.
Farmers have started preparing IRRI-boro seed beds from the second half of October and it will continue till last week of November.
Farmers have feared that they might have to use low quality seeds due to scarcity of quality BADC seeds resulting in poor yield of paddy and their great loss in future
Farmers have also demanded of the authorities concerned for increased allocation for IRRI-boro seeds to meet up their requirement.
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