Dense fog and a cold wave are damaging irri-boro seedbeds in Naogaon, the northern border district. The cold suddenly intensified from the last week of last year, and for several days a mild cold wave has been blowing along with thick fog, harming the paddy seedbeds.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), boro seedbeds have been prepared on 10,800 hectares in Naogaon, against a target of 9,300 hectares.

After several days of cold wave, the cold and dense fog are ruining seedbeds. Seedlings are turning reddish, drying and dying. Farmers have taken various steps, but the harsh weather has made them ineffective. With seedbeds damaged, there are worries over whether farmers can transplant on time, and they fear heavy crop losses. Seedbeds are being covered with polythene, opened for a while when the sun appears and covered again afterwards.

Ayen Uddin, a farmer of Bhatrand village in Niamatpur upazila, said: "I prepared seedbeds on two bighas. From three days after sowing there was fog and wind, and for several days the sun has not come out. The seedlings turned yellow, dried, and some died. Then I spent Tk 8,000 to cover them with polythene."

Humayun Ahmed of the same village said he had prepared seedbeds with one maund of paddy seed. Because of the cold and dense fog he had covered them with polythene. "Some has been damaged, but covering it with polythene is saving it. When there is a little sun in the day we open the polythene and cover it again in the afternoon. If it stays covered a few days the seedlings will come up, and then there will be no problem." He said many in the area had adopted this method, and he would grow boro on five bighas this year.

Babul Hossain, a farmer of Baktarpur village in Sadar upazila, said transplanting would begin in a few days. His seedlings were a little over a month old but had still turned yellow. If they were ruined, transplanting would be delayed.

Md Abu Hossain, deputy director of the DAE in Naogaon, said the cold wave had caused some problems for seedbeds, but because there were more seedbeds than planned, the target would not be much affected. Farmers were being given full advice on keeping seedbeds healthy. This boro season, BRRI dhan89 has been given priority because its growing period is longer and its yield is good; other varieties are also being grown.

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