The New Nation - Internet Edition

AS reported in the press the supply of power to farm sector may remain uncertain in the current season. It is so, due to the fact that the Rural Electrification Board (REB) has not yet obtained the budgetary allocation for purchase of electricity and distribution of the same to farmers. The REB has reportedly submitted a proposal for allocation of 196 crore Taka for supply of electricity to over two lakh farmers. The electricity will be used for irrigation of farm lands in the current autumn season. The supply of diesel also turned uncertain, due to uptrend of price of oil.

The normal demand for electricity in rural areas is around 1850 MW. It may cross 2650 MW in the current season, when more farmers will use electricity for irrigation purposes. That being so, the supply of electricity to rural areas has to be made pragmatic. The Ministry of Energy and Power, that supervises the operations of different agencies in the power sector, has to respond to the demands raised by those agencies, including the REB. The use of power for production of Boro crops has to be ensured. Otherwise, the production of those crops may remain uncertain and the ultimate burden would fall upon the farmers.

The reported target of Boro production, upto 197 lakh tonnes from the over 46 lakh hectares of farm land, may be achieved if the supply of power is ensured. But the delay in the allocation of fiscal resources to the REB and other official agencies may turn the supply of electricity to farm lands uncertain. The allocated fund will be used by the REB to meet the increasing demand of farmers in the country, who would use power for production of Boro crops in the current season.