Farmers of Chatmohar in Pabna have started cultivating Boro paddy ignoring the cold wave. Some are busy preparing the land, some are lifting saplings and some are planting saplings in the land. Irrigation system owners were seen busy irrigating lands. Ignoring the decision of the Upazila Irrigation Committee, the owners of the irrigation system took one-fourth of the paddy from the farmers of the area. Although they wanted to pay the fixed rate, the owners of the irrigation system forced the farmer to pay one-fourth of the produce in the hope of making extra profit. There is a strong dissatisfaction among the farmers with the tendency of the owners of the irrigation system to share one-fourth (one-fourth).
According to the Chatmohar Upazila Agriculture Office, the target for the current Boro cultivation season has been set at 9,200 (nine thousand two hundred) hectares of land in 11 unions of Chatmohar. The work of planting saplings has started in a few days. So far, saplings have been planted in one thousand two hundred (1,200) hectares of land. In this area usually Bridhan-28, 29, 50, 58, 64, 81, 84, 89, 92, 96 varieties of paddy are cultivated. Besides, hybrid SL6H, Tej Gold, Doyle, Tia and BRAC varieties of paddy are cultivated.
Afsar Ali, a farmer from Boailmari village in the upazila, said he has been cultivating Boro paddy for a long time. This year also he is cultivating BRRI-29 variety of paddy in two bighas of land. However, those who cultivate other people's land on lease cost an additional Tk 6,000 in compensation. He lamented that the owner of the irrigation system had to go through one-fourth of the paddy field. They have to cut their share of paddy. The owners of the irrigation system do not accept the decision of the Upazila Irrigation Committee.
Other farmers said that although there was a fixed rate of payment for irrigation, the owners of the irrigation system in Chatmohar ignored it and took one-fourth of the paddy for irrigation. This situation is prevailing in almost the entire Chatmohar. The owner of an irrigator gets about six to seven mounds of paddy per bigha of land in one fourth. The market value of this quantity of paddy is about six thousand Tks. The owners of irrigators are collecting additional paddy worth Tk 4,000 from each farmer per bigha. There is intense dissatisfaction among the farmers.
Chatmohar Upazila Agriculture Officer AA Masum Billah said planting of Boro paddy saplings has been started for several days this season. Farmers are benefiting by cultivating Boro paddy at present as the price of paddy is good.
Saikat Islam, president of the Upazila Irrigation Committee and Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said there was no provision for taking one-fourth of paddy. Irrigation committee has fixed the irrigation charge. Irrigation owners are informed of the prescribed irrigation charges at the time of approval. If the owner of any irrigation device does not abide by this provision, legal action will be taken. Besides, if the farmers complain about this, necessary action will be taken.