Innovative measure saves boro seedbeds from cold, dense fog

Most of the boro seedbeds in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts are growing well despite persistent cold wave and dense fog as the farmers are covering the seedbeds with polythene after irrigation at night following instructions of the agriculture officials.

"Farmers are advised to water the seedbeds in the evening, and keep them covered with polythene until disappearance of fog in the morning and then ensure draining of water from seedbeds," said Arshed Ali, deputy director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Thakurgaon.

"Through maintaining the procedure along with proper use of fertiliser, farmers can save their boro seedlings from cold injury. Then, if needed, they can spray Thiovit on the seedbeds," he said.

Farmers of five upazilas in Thakurgoan district have prepared seedbeds on 3,375 hectares of land while there is a target of cultivating Irri-boro paddy on 59,979 hectares of land with the production target of 2 lakh 39 thousand 387 tonnes of rice this season, said officials of DAE.  

A man waters his seedbed at Barunagaon village in the same upazila as the agriculture officials suggested the measures to save the growing seedlings from ongoing cold and dense fog in the northern districts. Photo: Star

In Panchagarh, boro seedbeds have been prepared on 1,925 hectares of land in five upazilas and the DAE set a target to cultivate boro on 36,096 hectares of land with the production target of 1 lakh 45 thousand 261 tonnes of rice.

During a visit to different areas in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila including Salondor, Jamuripara and Kochubari villages on Thursday and Sakoya, Chandanbari, Kunpokhori villages on Friday, this correspondent saw most of the boro seedbeds growing well with beautiful greenery.

Farmers said they are able to save their seedlings by following agriculture officials' instructions to use polythene on seedbeds during dense fog and cold wave.  

Earlier they had to sow boro seeds two or three times in a season as cold injuries often affected their seedbeds.  

Abdul Malek, 32, of Sahapara village in Boda upazila of Panchagarh said he sowed boro seeds on a 10-decimal land and the seedlings have grown well as he is using polythene covers and providing irrigation as per instructions of local agriculture officials.

Rashedul Bhuiyan, 45, of Balia village in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila said he prepared boro seedbeds on eight decimals of land and taking care of his seedbeds in the same way.      

Farmers of a few seedbeds, which turned whitish or yellowish due to the adverse weather, said it happened as they had not covered the seedbeds with polythene during night.  

"When the weather becomes sunny, farmers of the affected boro seedbeds can apply top dressing with a mixture of 280-gram urea and 100-gram potash per decimal of land to help the seedlings get back normalcy," said Arshed Ali, DD of Thakurgaon DAE.     

Hopefully the boro production target will be achieved this season as farmers have been able to save their seedlings from adverse weather by following instructions for proper seedbed management, he added.