Diesel crunch hits farm heartlands

Farmers across the country are struggling to irrigate paddy and other crops after the government restricted fuel supply amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, raising fears of disruptions to Boro cultivation.

In many areas, diesel has disappeared from local retail shops. Even after waiting long hours at filling stations, farmers often fail to obtain the amount they need, as pumps are selling only limited quantities.

Under the restriction, each person can buy just two litres of fuel. Many farmers also reported paying Tk 5–10 more per litre at retail outlets.

Diesel-run pumps are widely used for irrigation, particularly in the northern region and the haor areas of Sylhet during the Boro season, which runs from December to June.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the country currently has 754 diesel-powered deep tube wells, 10,39,337 shallow tube wells, and 1,84,384 low-lift pumps in operation.

Boro is Bangladesh’s single largest rice crop. The cultivation target this year is 50.54 lakh hectares, with 48.53 lakh hectares already brought under farming as of March 8, according to DAE data.

In the Rangpur region alone, Boro has been cultivated on 5,09,095 hectares. In five districts -- Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur, Nilphamari and Gaibandha -- 35–40 percent of cultivable land depends entirely on diesel-powered shallow machines.

Farmers in off-grid areas, particularly the chars along the Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dharla rivers, said they are struggling to keep their fields irrigated.

Mostak Ali, a farmer from Bhelabari village in Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila, said he travelled 12 kilometres to obtain just two litres of diesel, although he needs around 13 litres daily to irrigate his 33 bighas of land.

In Kurigram’s Chilmari upazila, Sekendar Ali of Char Jorgach said local shops have run out of diesel, forcing him to travel seven kilometres to a filling station, where he received only a fraction of what is required to irrigate his 35 bighas.

“Without adequate diesel, our Boro crop is under direct threat,” he said.

Monir Hossain, a retailer in the same char, said he sold the diesel he had in stock until Sunday but has since been unable to procure more.

“Farmers and boatmen are facing severe hardship,” he said.

Meser Ali, owner of a filling station in Lalmonirhat Sadar, said they are controlling sales due to government restrictions.

Farmers, retailers and pump operators in Rajshahi, Bogura, Sylhet and Kushtia reported similar difficulties.

Tabarak Hossain, a farmer from Char Bhuban Para in Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila, said electricity is unavailable in the area, leaving farmers entirely dependent on diesel.

“This is the peak time for paddy cultivation. If we cannot irrigate now, it will create a major crisis,” he said.

According to DAE Rajshahi, 26,506 or about 85 percent of the district’s 31,274 irrigation pumps are diesel-powered.

In Bogura’s Sariakandi upazila, Abdul Gafur from Batir Char said Boro fields require irrigation two to three times a week, while other crops need watering at least once weekly.

Now, retailers are charging Tk 8–10 extra per litre for diesel, pushing the price to around Tk 110, he said.

Sirajul Islam, additional director of DAE Rangpur, warned that insufficient irrigation could seriously threaten Boro production.

He explained that in areas where irrigation depends on diesel-run shallow machines, the pumps need to operate at least 12 hours every day to supply water to all fields in an area in rotation.

“We are communicating with the ministry so farmers can get the required diesel,” he said.

Farmers in remote parts of Kushtia also reported shortages. Mohammad Ali of Sonaidanga village said diesel has not been available at the Bittipara filling station for days, forcing him to buy from local shopkeepers at Tk 20–25 more per litre.

However, Md Showkat Hossain Bhuiyan, deputy director of DAE Kushtia, said they have not yet observed a crisis of that magnitude.

In Sylhet’s haor areas, farmers said the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Sudhin Biswas of Palermura village in Moulvibazar’s Hakaluki Haor said reduced rainfall caused the haor to dry earlier than usual, increasing irrigation demand.

“We need more irrigation now, but diesel is unavailable. We are in a major crisis,” he said.

DAE Director General Abdur Rahim said the department is monitoring the situation at the field level.

“So far, the crisis is not severe. We will coordinate with relevant ministries to ensure farmers and pump owners receive fuel on a priority basis,” he told The Daily Star, warning that prolonged supply disruptions due to the war would inevitably affect agriculture.

Jahangir Alam Khan, an agricultural economist and former director general of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, said the government’s rationing decision is understandable given the global oil crisis.

“However, agriculture must receive top priority. Boro cultivation depends heavily on irrigation, with 62–65 percent of land using diesel-powered pumps. Diesel for irrigation should be subsidised, just like electricity for power generation,” he said.

[Reporting by S Dilip Roy in Lalmonirhat, Mostafa Shabuj in Bogura, Shohanur Rahman Rafi in Rajshahi, Mintu Deshwara in Moulvibazar, and Anis Mondal in Kushtia]