সার্চ করুন
সার্চ করুন
Deteriorating flood condition in several
regions, due mainly to the onrush of water from the upstream of neighbouring
India, has been posing threat to targeted production of Aus and Aman crop this
year.
The flood
has been inundating fresh areas almost every day for last seven days as major
rivers were flowing over the danger mark in 13 points in the country on
Wednesday, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
Aman and
Aus rice seasons are the two major sources for the staple after Boro season.
Aman comprises 37-38 and Aus 7.0-8.0 per cent to the total rice output.
After
getting a handsome crop in the just concluded Boro season, government has set
an ambitious target of 15.6 million tonnes at 5.89 million hectares of land
this Aman season (June to December).
Aus has
also been targeted at 1.32 million hectares of lands to produce 3.64 million
tonnes in April-September period.
Last year
Aus output was 3.0 million tonnes at 1.13 million tonnes.
The
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)'s monitoring unit said farmers
brought almost 1.326 million hectares of land under Aus farming till June 28.
But the
ongoing flood has been posing threats to government's prospect, said insiders.
They said
if the flood continues for next two weeks it would definitely cause severe
damage to standing Aus crops and Aman saeed-beds.
The
Teesta, Dharala, Ghaghot rivers already crossed the danger mark, damaging more
than 18,000 hectares of standing Aus crops, vegetable and Aman saeed beds in
Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Rangpur districts after India
opened Gazoldoba barrage in its part to release excessive water without any
warning, an official at Bangladesh Water Development Board in Rangpur said.
Jamuna
have been swelling over the danger mark in several districts bringing disaster
to crop fields in Bogura, Sirajganj, Jamalpur and Tangail districts.
Water in
the Padma started flowing over the danger level at Goalando in Rajbari district
on Wednesday, FFWC said.
Water was
rising in 53 points out of 101 across the country on Wednesday, said FFWC.
Department
of Agricultural Extension (DAE) primary reports said nearly 36,000 hectares of
Aus, Aman saeed-beds, vegetable and green chilli fields have been inundated in
four districts in the river bank of the Jamuna.
DAE was
preparing reports on losses in Manikganj, Rajbari, Sunamganj, Sylhet and
Netrakona districts.
DAE field
service wing director Dr Alhaz Uddin Ahmed, said the condition might be worrisome
for Aus crops if flood stays for next two to three weeks.
But if
flood condition improves, water removes from fields in a week, it would be a
boon for the crops, he said.
He said
there is nothing to worry about Aman for now as plantation will be continued
till September.
Chairman
of Agrarian Research Foundation, Bangladesh (ARF) Prof Abdul Hameed, said
forecasts are showing that monsoon will remain much active this year.
He said
Indian states are set to witness heavy rain this monsoon which means onrush of
water from the upstream might continue.
The
upstream water could make longer floods which could cause damage to crops
severely, he said.
He said
the government should take measure to talk to Indian authority over realising
water through their dams and barrages after giving alerts.
He said
Aman is especially most vulnerable to flood considering its sowing periods.
"We
have recent experience that how upstream water could cause crop damage which
led to an all-time high rice prices in the country in September 2017", he
said.
He said
any possible hamper in production might affect our food security during this
pandemic.
The policy
makers should be cautious about it and should make a 5.0 million tonnes of
strategic food bank to tackle any possible food shortage, he said.
However,
rice prices witnessed a 7.0-14 per cent hike in last two weeks in the country
during this Boro harvesting and primary trading period.
Coarse rice was selling at Tk 44-48 a kg marking a 14 per cent hike in last two weeks, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
উত্তর সমূহ