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Drought hampers Aus, Aman cultivation in Jhenaidah

DAE advises supplementary irrigation water supply


Published : 17 Jul 2022 02:14 AM

The fates of the farmers in Jhenaidah were slapped when the future of their Aus and Aman was uncertain due to severe drought like climate for a long. The standing Aus plots have been dried up and the preparation of seed beds for Aman farming was stopped in the season, said the farmers of the district. 

Finding no other alternatives, the officials of the department of agriculture extension (DAE) has been advising the farmers to ensure supplementary irrigation water for the lands until and unless the rainfall was available.

Lokman Hossain was watching his Aus paddy farming on 44 decimals of land at Sastibar field in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah. He said the plot started cracking when there was not rainwater for last few months. The paddy grain now crossing the panicle and initiation stage requires huge water for smooth growing. But he could not manage irrigation water as each one bigha of 40 decimals costs Taka five to six thousand in a season. Most of the Aus farmers in his area were not in a position to manage the irrigation water through pumps, he said.

Farmer Sadek Sheikh of Jhaudia village in same area showing his dried plot said he kept the plot for Aman seed beds preparation for last one and a half month. But he could not put seeds there for want of rain water for weeks together. This sort of activities could not be furnished smoothly with the irrigation water as the pump water contains iron and some other contents. If he could not prepare seed beds in time, will have to collect the sapling form other markets at a higher prices in the season, Sadek Sheikh said.

Office of the deputy Director (DD) of the department of agriculture extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah sources said the farmers brought 36,680 hectares of land under the Aus farming in the season as against the same area in last season. The paddy plants crossing panicle, initiation, growing, booting and heading stages on the fields. Huge rain water was required there. But the farmers have been passing their days with tension and agony due the drought like climate.

DAE deputy director Asgar Ali when contacted said the paddy plants might be affected badly if there was not rainfall within a day or two. Only supplementary irrigation water with pumps might save the crops if the farmers could arrange them. 

Deputy Director said they recorded 120 millimeters of rainfall in June and another 26 millimeters till June 14 in the district. The minimum requirement of the natural water was 400 millimeters in mid June to mid July. Climate changes issues lead the least rainfall and change in the weather. All the irrigation pumps lying idle at farmers’ level, was advised to make them operative at no delay to ensure irrigation for each and every Aus plots, he said.