Munshiganj potato farmers in deep trouble

Heavy rainfall triggered by the remnants of Cyclone Jawad has caused a large-scale damage to the standing seasonal crops across the country.

Even though the cyclone lost its steam while still over the Bay of Bengal, it generated heavy downpour in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the government has directed all district administrations to furnish reports on losses suffered to the standing crop in their respective areas.

According to our Munshiganj correspondent, at least 17,000 hectares of newly planted potato seedlings under six upazilas of Munshiganj went underwater following the incessant rainfall during the last three days beginning from Saturday last.

“Some 5,000 hectares of potato plants are feared to be completely rotten due to the heavy rainfall,” said Md Khorshed Alam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Munshiganj office.

“As Munshiganj district meets nearly one-third of the country’s total potato demand, 90 per cent of this district’s farmers are involved only in potato cultivation,” he said.

Khorshed Alam also noted that if the potato seedlings were rotten, the farmers of this district would not only face massive losses, but also the country’s overall potato production would largely be hampered.

Potato seedlings were planted in more than 37,900 hectares of land in the district this season while it produced over 1.3 tons of potatoes on 37,590 hectares of cropland last year.

“We were hoping to produce 1.3 million tons of potatoes again this season but now we are really worried about the bleak production prospect as most of the  croplands of the district still underwater due to the torrential rains,’’ said Toufique Ahmed Noor, an agricultural officer of Gazaria upazila, while talking to The Business Post.

According to the DAE sources, about ten varieties of potatoes such as Diamond, Granola, Cardinal, Lady Rossetta and Asterix, are cultivated in Munshiganj district.

However, diamond variety potatoes mostly occupy 90 per cent of the total potato cultivation in this district.

Almost all the local farmers are directly involved in potato cultivation as they get good profit with low cost and high yield.

Every year potatoes are cultivated in about two-thirds of the land in Munshiganj district.

According to the farmers, traders from different areas, including Faridpur, Bhola, Barisal, Narayanganj and Dhaka, usually come to this district to buy potatoes.

Because of its peak season for plantation, the farmers planted a massive amount of potato seeds on their cropland until Saturday last. 

But, with the advent of untimely rainfall, these seedlings--which have just sprouted- had gone underwater and are likely to be abandoned soon.

DAE sources, however, claimed that seedlings planted five to eight days ago are likely to be rotten, but seedlings planted 10 to 15 days before will not face any damage.

Monsur Madbar, a farmer who has planted potato seeds on his 126 decimal land just a week ago, spending Tk 1.5 lakh, said, “Although the price of the seeds is comparatively less this year, the price of fertilisers are still high. If the existing potato seedlings are spoiled, we have to go for replantation, which will ultimately increase the production cost. 

“We have nothing to do now as we will have to wait until the cropland is dried completely.”

Echoing other local potato farmers, Jashim Pradhan told The Business Post that they have failed to remove the rainwater from their croplands.

“We are just waiting helplessly, expecting the water to recede naturally. Most of us have taken loans from different sources to cultivate, only to repay them after the harvest season. But if the plants get rotten, all our hopes will be shattered,” said farmer Jashim.

“Besides, as these areas are surrounded by several rivers, these croplands go down underwater along with rainwater during the high tides, which occurs every evening, ‘’ said DAE official Toufique.

“Many farmers of the area are yet to sow potato seeds on their croplands. Now all of them helplessly waiting for the soaked croplands to be dried out. If the current situation continues, Munshiganj will lose 30 to 35 per cent of its total potato production this year,” he added.

Potatoes have been cultivated in Munshiganj since 1700.   In 1778, farmers first started cultivating the British variety of potatoes in this district.

Untimely rain damages crops in Faridpur, Bagerhat

Incessant showers over the past few days have damaged crops in several areas of Faridpur and Bagerhat districts.

Deputy director of Faridpur Agricultural Extension Department Hazrat Ali said, “20,000 hectares of standing crop land have gone under water. But we will give incentives to the affected farmers to overcome their losses. Our officials will survey the affected areas soon.”

Crops such as onions, garlic, potatoes and mustard have also sustained damage in the showers, according to farmers. “Untimely rain has taken away our last hope. We don’t know how to tide over the losses,” said a farmer.

Atul Sarker, district commissioner of Faridpur, said, “We have already asked the authorities concerned to ascertain the extent of damage. The government stands by the farmers.”

Intermittent showers over the past three-four days in the coastal district of Bagerhat have inundated some 739 hectares of farmland, officials said on Tuesday.

“The showers have affected mustard crops across 137 hectares, lentil crops across 193 hectares, winter crops like radish, cabbage, cauliflower and turnip across 35 hectares, and wheat crops across 17 hectares,” said Md Azizur Rahman, the deputy director of the agricultural extension department.

Besides, boro seed beds across 207 hectares of farmland and Ropa Aman paddy fields across 150 hectares are suspected to have sustained damage due to the showers that began on Saturday, the official said. From 6am on Monday to 6am on Tuesday, the district experienced 22.3 mm of rainfall.