How to get a bumper boro crop
The importance of boro cannot be overstated. Photo: Shafiq Islam/ Drik News
AMONG the three rice crops (aus, aman and boro), amam continued to top the list until 1997-98. In 1998-99, aman was replaced by boro as the highest producing rice. Since then, boro has continued to top the list. Since 1998-99, boro has been contributing more than 50 percent of total rice production in the country. Government sources reveal that total food grain (rice and wheat) production target for 2009-10 is 34.37 million tonnes, of which the share of boro is 19 million tonnes, which means 56.8 percent of the total production target in the year2009-10.The total area to be brought under boro cultivation has been estimated at 4.8 million ha land. Boro crop requires maximum care during the month of March. In this month the plants of boro rice mature, and the ears of corn come out. Boro is primarily an irrigation-based crop. Water requirement is maximum during the rooting and flowering stages and sufficient water should be maintained in the plot to get a good harvest. Groundwater is the main source of irrigation. But concerns have been expressed by different quarters, including water experts and environmentalists, about over-extraction of ground water for agricultural purposes, particularly for irrigation of boro crop. In its editorial of February 7, The Daily Star wrote: "According to recent press reports, over-extraction of ground water through hand-operated and power pumps is drastically depleting the country's water resources and threatening the long-term irrigation potential. This has happened mainly as a result of expanding the cultivation of boro paddy in the last three decades by using ground water. The latest findings of a Washington-based research organisation also shows that expansion of irrigated boro cultivation has raised a few environmental concerns, including decline in soil fertility for growing more than one crop on the same land every year. The International Food Policy Research Institute has noted that the groundwater resources have already been over-exploited." The situation demands special attention of the government for bringing back to life the dead and dying water bodies to help augment supply of surface water for agricultural purposes, in particular for irrigation of boro crop, to sustain/ increase food production for ensuring food security of the people. Agricultural scientists and water experts say that "thrust is necessary to optimise the exploitation of groundwater resources in conjunction with surface water, including realistic assessment of their potentials using adequate scientific approaches." Timely and adequate supply of electricity to operate irrigation pumps, particularly deep tube wells, for watering boro crop is very important. Available reports suggest overall power shortage of 3,000 MW in the peak irrigation season, and irrigation alone faces more than 1,000 MW power shortage. All indications are there that the government's plan to add 530 MW electricity to the national grid through installation of 8 rental power plants to ease power supply situation during boro season is not going to materialise as per schedule. So the alternative available at the moment is to supply more electricity to rural areas for ensuring irrigation of boro by causing inconvenience to urban people. It goes without saying that food production is a priority of the state and so electricity supply must be ensured for irrigation. It is good to see that under the newly introduced Agri-input Assistance Card and Cash Assistance program the government has decided to provide cash subsidy to farmers (Tk.800 to a marginal farmer and Tk.1,000 to a big farmer) through banks to buy diesel for diesel-run power pumps in the peak boro season. The Energy Regulatory Commission deserves thanks for deciding to keep agriculture outside the purview of the recent upward revision of electricity prices. After all, farmers do require all the support that they can get from the state to produce more food. The major fertilisers required for boro crop are urea, TSP, MOP, gypsum and zinc sulfate. Urea tops the demand list. Till date, there have been no reports about non-availability of fertilisers at the field level. But, a study conducted by a non-government organisation forecasts shortage of more than 0.3 million tonnes of urea during the total growing season against its present stock position. Since the demand from farmers for urea will increase heavily in March, the government will have to remain alert to ensure availability and timely supply of urea and other fertilisers to farmers. We had a bumper boro crop last year. As a result, soaring price of rice came down significantly in the first eight or nine months of 2009. But the prices of different varieties of rice have been continuously rising since October of the current fiscal year. According to the BBS, the food inflation at national level reached 9.50 percent in December, 2009. The overall inflation rate on a point-to point basis reached 8.51 percent in December last. According to Bangladesh Bank sources, inflation has been going up in recent times primarily due to price hike of rice. Food inflation at national level of rural and urban areas also reached at 9.50 percent in December, 2009 against 6.83 percent in December 2008, the BBS statistics said. The June, 2009 issue of Food Outlook, a biannual publication of Fao, forecasted a modest growth in rice production in Asia in 2009-10 after two years of fast growth. The December, 2009 issue says that the global paddy production outlook had worsened substantially since the release of the June issue, and stands at 675 million tonnes, 13 million tonnes or 1.9 percent less than 2008. There is concern about a possible return to another round of high prices. Rice is the staple food of Bangladesh and provides about 93 percent of the country's total cereal intake, and about 75 percent of the calories in our diet. Rice accounts for more than 50 percent of our household expenditure. In view of what has been stated above, the need for another bumper boro crop in 2010 can hardly be over-emphasised. The authorities concerned must provide all possible assistance to farmers in order to make it a reality.M. Abdul Latif Mondal is a Former Secretary.
E-mail: latifm43@gmail.com
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