Early winter vegetable seedlings planted in Satkhira rotted because of rain and waterlogging, so farmers have had to spend twice as much on planting this year. The vegetables will also reach the market late, leaving the district's farmers with losses and behind in the winter vegetable season.

Most of Satkhira's vegetables are grown in the Sadar, Debhata, Tala and Kalaroa upazilas, and after meeting local demand they are supplied to the capital and other districts. This year, however, continuous heavy rain waterlogged the fields in these areas, so farmers here started vegetable production late.

Farmer Johur Ali of Nagarghata village in Tala upazila told Jago News: "Towards the end of the rainy season I raise quality vegetable seedlings with special care and sell them to growers. But last month's continuous rain destroyed the first round of seedbeds, causing a loss of Tk 3 lakh."

Others in the village had also sown cabbage and cauliflower, but the rain destroyed the first seedbeds and planted seedlings. Many have made new seedbeds to grow vegetables again. Having missed the start of the season, they fear low prices for their produce, and they are calling for government support.

Farmer Abul Hossain said: "I spent Tk 1 lakh planting early winter vegetable seedlings on three bighas. Last month several days of continuous rain killed all the seedlings. I have planted again, but when these vegetables reach the market I won't get a good price."

Md Mosharraf Hossain, a trader at Boro Bazar, told Jago News: "The vegetables in the fields have been ruined. With less supply to Satkhira's local markets, prices of all vegetables have gone up several times. There is no chance of prices falling until new winter vegetables come to market."

Agriculturist Md Saiful Islam, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told Jago News: "Winter vegetable and field crop growers have suffered losses because of excessive rain. Affected farmers will be helped with advice, seed and fertiliser, and a list is already being prepared."

He said: "This year continuous rain and waterlogging damaged crops on 4,000 hectares in the district, with financial losses of more than Tk 10 crore. The number of affected farmers is 5,332. Last year rabi crops were grown on 9,600 hectares in the district. Because of waterlogging, winter vegetables have been grown on 2,700 hectares up to November this year. Cultivation will increase as the water recedes."

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