Boro has been grown on about 15,000 hectares in Jhalakathi district, and the paddy has begun to ripen. All of it will be ripe within a few days, and early-planted boro has already ripened. But the intense heat has caused a shortage of harvest workers, leaving this season's boro farmers in trouble. They say workers cannot be found even at a daily wage of Tk 800.

The agriculture department says the yield is good this year. The boro target was 13,350 hectares, but because farmers are keen on this profitable crop, about 15,000 hectares were planted. Yet farmers are struggling to bring in the crop for lack of workers. Jhalakathi has been scorched by an intense heatwave all month.

This year's heatwave has already set a record. The previous longest continuous heatwave in the country was 23 days; this year it has already passed 27 days. Scientists say the country has reached its highest temperatures in about 75 years. A heat alert has been issued nationwide because of the prolonged heatwave, and it has been extended.

Farmers say workers cannot be found even for double the wage. Many are paying extra to get their paddy home, and they say higher production costs will mean losses this year.

Farmer Zakir Hossain said: "It is so hot that people cannot work in the fields. The ripe paddy is staying in the field. Modern harvesting machines are not easily available either. Not finding day labourers has cost me. It is a real problem."

Agriculturist Monirul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (Khamarbari) in Jhalakathi, said: "We have given farmers proper advice. Because of the intense heat they cannot harvest now. In a few days conditions will be somewhat more bearable. But there is also a risk of heavy rain, so they are being advised to cut the paddy once 80% is ripe, before heavy rain arrives."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.