Boro paddy and watermelon farmers are in dire straits due to water crisis in various canals, increase in prices of diesel and pesticides in Baufal of Patuakhali. They are working hard in the morning and evening to harvest the gold crop despite the multifaceted crisis. Farmers demand government subsidy to compensate the loss.
It can be seen on the ground that there is an extreme irrigation crisis in the Boro paddy fields. Farmers are using cello machines to irrigate from ditches, ponds and dead canals which are far less than the demand. Meanwhile, the flow of water is less as the canals are illegally occupied and filled. Although there is some water flow at high tide, there is no water during low tide. Farmers irrigate with tidal water dams. On the other hand, due to the increase in the price of diesel, they are struggling to run the machine. Not only diesel but also pesticides have gone up in price. Farmers have to borrow to meet these expenses.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Department, the area under paddy has doubled this season. The target was 3,595 hectares. About 7,000 hectares (ongoing) have been planted there. Of which 80 percent is Ufshi and 20 percent is hybrid rice. On the other hand, watermelon has been planted in 1,531 hectares of land in this upazila.
Farmers said diesel was sold at Tk 67 per liter during the Boro season last year which now stood at Tk 83. The price of Bri Fire pesticide has gone up by Tk 170 to Tk 230. The prices of other medicines have also gone up. They said that to cultivate boro paddy in 1 unit of land, it costs around Tk 50000. Those who do not have land have to pay more for taking land lease. The yield per acre of land is about 50 maunds.
Boro farmers in Char Kalaiya said that the cost of boro farming is high and everything is expensive. However, the price of paddy is low. They will no longer cultivate with losses.
Another farmer Md. Sajib said, “Oil prices are higher this year. I can't irrigate properly. The government should open an irrigation project for us. Otherwise, many people will stop cultivating boro in the future.”
While asking about the irrigation crisis Upazila BADC deputy assistant engineer Md. Mosaref Hossain said, “Rescue work is underway by listing the unoccupied canals.”
In this regard Baufal Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Moniruzzaman Himu said, “Work is underway to solve the problem of farmers with irrigation.”
