Farm sector needs attention

The overall growth of farm sector in the country continues to show an uptrend. This is due to production of high-yielding varieties of paddy as well as crop intensification. Farmers have also tried to optimise the use of fertiliser, seeds, irrigation facilities for obtaining better yields. New varieties of high-yielding paddy have also been introduced with support from the Rice Research Institute. Farmers produce quality crops to earn more. Interface between farmers and research institutions plus the experts therein remains peripheral.That being so, farmers are found using the land for production of paddy all around the year. They are found planting seeds in the winter season and transplant seedlings at a time when the farm land remains unsuitable for cultivation. Non-availability of irrigation water affects the production of crops. The production of boro crops in some areas have been affected due to non-growth of grain in paddy this season due to early cultivation of the crop and cold stroke suffered by plants at the pollination stage. The formation of "Chita" (paddy without grain) in Mymensingh region has been reported in the press.

Experts in the field of farming and representatives of Union Parishads and journalists have exchanged their views on the formation of 'Chita' in the current season. The chief scientific officer of the Rice Research Institute has asserted that formation of "Chita" in the boro crops could be avoided if awareness about the use of land in different seasons could be raised. A majority of farmers fail to interact with experts in farming and thus remain unaware of proper time of using farm land. While the targeted production per hectare of land would be around six tonnes with appropriate use of knowledge and inputs, the farmers in the above area virtually produced "Chita". The "Chita" in place of rice in the paddy has come as a huge loss to the farmers concerned. The effects of such loss will fall upon consumers of rice in the area and the country at large.

The farming community in Brahmanbaria, Kishoregonj and Netrokona districts have taken the brunt of the problem this season. The "Chita" has made paddy output in those districts disastrous. As it is, the production of rice in Bangladesh has been augmented with the use of different varieties of paddy. The age-old varieties, that were found less productive, have been replaced with high-yielding varieties. Such high yielding varieties have been obtained from different countries over the past decades. Some high yielding varieties have also been developed at the Rice Research Institute. Despite all that, the loss of production of rice in the current "boro" season has affected the farmers in the country, and may also affect the food supply line. Farmers affected during this season need support to overcome loss.