A debacle in Aman paddy production is raising fears of an upcoming food crisis in Kurigram.
It's rainy reason in Bangladesh and agricultural land is supposed to be wet with monsoon rains by now.
But a vast part of land is currently dry and cracks have formed in many parts of the country, Including Kurigram, affecting the cultivation of Aman rice, the second-largest paddy after Boro, amid dry spell.
"We have been passing our days looking at the sky for rains," said Ershadul Habib, a farmer of Purbachora area of Ulipur upazila of Kurigram.
The grower had prepared his seedbed on 6 acres of land to plant Aman. The seedlings have grown fully, but he could not prepare the land on time to transplant the seedlings for the drought-like situation.
The unfavourable weather following repeated floods had hurt the previous two rice crops -- Boro and Aush. This fanned concerns about the food security of the nation at a time when the war in Ukraine is disrupting the supply of grains.
The mild heat wave has created worries among farmers and agronomists as any delay in transplantation will reduce the overall yield from the crop.
According to Ulipur upazila agriculture office sources, farmers transplanted Aman on 18,500 hectares of land, out of the government's target of 24,500 hectares.
Farmers have prepared seedlings on 1,180 hectares so far.
"My seedlings matured a week ago and I have been watering them to keep them alive. I don't know when the rain will come and we will start transplantation. We are worried," said Md Khaja Mia, a farmer in ulipur upazila.
Farmers normally start transplanting Aman on the first day of Srabon (July 16) as per the Bangla calendar year.
Mosarraf Hossain, Upazila agriculture officer said that the agency suggested using irrigation pumps to ensure the timely cultivation of Aman.